Possible Effects of Implementing Jatropha Biodiesel as Alternative for Petroleum Diesel in the Philippines

Introduction

The Oil Problem: High increases of prices of different commodities and services can now be observed in the Philippines. These increases are due to different factors such as catastrophes and global economic crisis. The government’s job is to find a way to address these problems. The most constant of these two is global economic crisis which is affected by crude oil price increases. Crude oil price affect different things that are important to the lives of Filipinos. It affects the price of food, utilities, price and many more that rely on the energy and transportation that crude oil can provide. Crude oil basically comes from fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are formed through the decomposition without oxygen of dead organisms. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form but are being used fast. Most experts say that it will only take about 50 years for the fossil fuels to be depleted. As it becomes closer to depletion, its price will surely increase as the basic rule of economics states. The only way to cope with low supply but high demand is to increase its price.

The Solution: There are many possible alternatives for fossil fuels as source of energy but the use of biofuels is the most favourable since it is cheaper, renewable and degradable or has use compared to other alternatives. Biofuels are fuels which energy is derived from biological objects like plants or animal extracts. They can be in solid, liquid or gas form. Liquid biofuels are used as alternative fuels for vehicles in place of petroleum.

The previously known alternative for petroleum is ethanol. But the problem with using ethanol is that it cannot replace petroleum directly. That has been a problem until biodiesel is discovered.

Biodiesel is also a biofuel, produced