Ireland urges EU Energy Council to review bio feedstock fraud

The Irish government will seek further analysis of biofuel produced from palm oil derivatives and strategies to prevent fraudulent activities during next week's Council meeting.

PHOTO: Aerial view of a palm oil plantation. Getty Images

“Ireland will ask further analysis from the European Commission and cooperation from member states on biofuels supply from palm oil derivatives and fraud prevention,” the Council agenda states. The EU Energy Council is set to meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday. 

Indonesia is currently the largest exporter of palm oil to the EU. In August, the European Union launched an anti-circumvention investigation into Indonesian palm oil-based biodiesel. This investigation was initiated in response to a request from the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) in July 2023, regarding the suspected evasion of EU duties on Indonesian palm oil-based biofuel imports.

The EBB alleged that subsidised Indonesian palm oil-based biodiesel continued to enter the EU market via different countries like China and the UK. "Growing volumes of Indonesian palm oil-based biodiesel appear to be exported to China, and then re-exported towards Europe," the EBB claimed.

Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is a derivative generated during palm oil production that can be further processed into POMEME by biodiesel refineries. POMEME-based biofuels are popular in Dutch ports as they qualify for advanced biofuel rebates through the Dutch HBE system.

By Manjula Nair

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