Japan to Build UCO Biodiesel Plant in the Philippines

The government of Japan recently launched a project in the Philippines to produce biodiesel from used cooking oil.

The project, located in Davao City, aims to collect used cooking oil (UCO) from households and businesses for use in biodiesel production. This project marks the first time this technology is used outside of Japan, and the Japanese government hopes that it will serve as model for future endeavors in other cities.

Tomoko Dodo, director of Japan's Consular Office in Davao City, is confident it will also work for the Philippines.

‘From this year until March 2016, [Davao] city will conduct a viability study to see if there is enough UCO that can be collected. If it is viable, we will go to the next stage and build a plant where all the used cooking oil will be converted into biodiesel fuel,' said Dodo.

The Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources classifies UCO as toxic and hazardous, and the fact that it cannot legally be washed down the drain worsens the problem. A similar problem was faced in Japan, but the construction of a biodiesel plant help ease the issue.