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ICSA WELCOMES DECISION BY MINISTER NAUGHTEN ON BIOFUEL OBLIGATION

Apr 24, 2018 | Press Releases | 0 comments

24 APRIL 2018

ICSA president Patrick Kent has welcomed the decision by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten to increase the biofuel obligation rate to 10%. “This makes sense because crop based biofuels have up to 70% less GHG emissions than fossil fuels, reduce dependence on imports from outside the EU and provide a much needed boost to  EU arable farmers. However, it must go hand in hand with Ireland rejecting the absurd EU proposal to cut the crop based biofuel mandate from the current 7%.”

ICSA has been campaigning to overturn the EU proposals which represent a complete U-turn on renewables under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). “Farmers can be part of the solution on climate change. But this requires a positive policy framework to allow farmers to grow more renewable energy crops in Europe not less.”

“This can only happen if there is coherence in EU and member state renewable energy policy. Therefore, we are calling on Minister Naughten to follow through on his sensible decision on the national biofuel obligation by strongly opposing the EU Commission proposals on reducing the biofuel mandate from 7% and also rejecting the botched EU Parliament compromise because neither are compatible with obliging fuel suppliers to blend 10% biofuels in the fuel mix.”

“It is also important to note that biofuel production from EU crops results in significant supplies of high value protein feeds such as distillers grains and rapeseed meal. At a time when the EU has launched a consultation on how to increase protein supplies in Europe, it makes no sense to reduce a very useful source of proteins produced in the EU. Over dependence on imported GM soya is a major weakness in EU livestock systems and is a particular threat to the Irish dairy sector.”

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