British American Bio Diesel

A new generation of bio fuels

BABCO is an international corporation with worldwide interests in the recovery of oil, oil blending and the developments in the use of plants and trees for the production of bio fuel.

In 1996, British American started a research and development programme to look into the development of alternative fuels in USA, UK, Malaysia, Canada and Africa.

An extensive programme of research and development took place into the recycling of hydrocarbons and petroleum waste, residual fuel oils, recycled vegetable oils, palm oil and oils from the Jatropha seeds.

The research and development programme allowed us to test and seek solutions to the problems of creating alterative bio fuels.

The development work included the growing of rhizomes, palms for palm oil and Jatropha tree seeds for harvesting and processing the kernels to extract the maximum oils for production, at the same time ensuring that all of the waste products can be re-used. Especially leaves and husks can be mulched and re-applied as humus.

Our research and development programme put us into the forefront of extracting bio fuels from the Jatropha seeds, recycled vegetable oils, palm oil, and the recycling of hydrocarbons, petroleum waste and residual fuels.

In 1996, after discussions with the governments and large oil companies around the world, it was evident that most of the Western governments had no policies for dealing with the problems of CO2 gasses, although most renowned world scientists believed carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions were the main greenhouse gasses contributing to global warming.

Most countries did not have any environmental policies, laws or infrastructure to deal with the problems of waste residual fuel oils.

The general opinion was oil was cheap and plentiful worldwide, and was in no danger of running out in the foreseeable future as oil was being discovered in new places throughout the world on a daily basis.

There was very little research and development by the large oil companies into new fuels to replace oil as they all felt bio fuel was too expensive and would not be required in any commercial quantities for at least another 20 or 30 years, and even then, it would only be a side-product to petroleum.

Since 2003, developing nations requiring more and more crude oil, changing the whole balance of the world crude oil market.

2006 saw the record of US$ 85 for a barrel of oil broken. Of major concern is that this is not just another 1970s/80s oil crisis and that the world has moved to a point where oil discoveries are smaller and failing to match both traditional demand and the energy demands of large growing economies such as China and India.

One of the biggest factors of rising costs is the cost of electricity from oil. The advantage of having one’s own supply of bio fuel is to give a major reduction in the cost of fuel to create electricity, helping to save valuable foreign exchange.

This has forced governments and international oil companies to re-look at alternative fuels. For many governments around the world this has been a clear signal to accelerate the development of alternative fuels such as ethanol, bio fuel, LPG, and CNG that will be needed to bridge the transition to new future fuel technologies over the next 30 years.

We have now been contacted by a number of our old clients and governments to discuss our current position.

BABCO has reinstated its research and development and is going to bring it up to date with its latest in house technologies for the development of bio fuel.

1. Renewable energy:

It appears that the strongest motive for bio fuel is that it is as a renewable form of energy, especially when it has become obvious that fossil resources are finite and supply security of mineral oils is an increasing risk.

2. Environmental benefits:

The environmental benefits (less greenhouse effect, less local air pollution, less contamination for water and soil, less health risks) are seen as convincing motivational factors.

3. Utilisation of agricultural surpluses:

Increased production of agricultural crops for non-food purposes has offered the opportunity to utilise land, which otherwise would be set-aside as an unexploited resource. It is no surprise that this argument is seen as a strong motive in favour of bio fuel.

In July 2006, BP one of the largest oil companies in the world announced they will be starting a new £275 million research and development programme into the use of bio fuels.

The Ford motor company has announced they are currently planning to produce engines designed to be more efficient when using a blend of bio fuel and diesel. Whilst bio fuel is currently used successfully in normal diesel engines, with the major companies working on such development on their engines, it is expected that percentage uptake will increase as a result. 

BABCO – Helping to keep the world a safer and greener place