Date:  Friday 12^th March 2010

Time:Presentation – 4.00 pm

           Drinks and nibbles – 5.00 pm

Venue:  BLT100, First Floor, Biology Building, 5 Symonds Street.

 

Despite it having been shown that cars can run successfully on 85% bioethanol many car manufacturers advise a maximum of  5 – 10%  for their models. The commonly recommended maximum for biodiesel is 5%, yet trials of up to 100% biodiesel fuel have been positive. It appears that the public remains apprehensive.

 

The NZ Government BioFuel Bill in 2008 stipulated that a mere 2.5% of oil companies’ sales must be biofuels by 2012.  Furthermore, these biofuels must emit significantly less greenhouse gases over their lifecycle than the fossil fuel equivalent.

 

Despite the recent substantial FRST grant for Lanzatech, NZ investment in biofuel R&D has been very difficult to come by.

 

The question of whether the development and production of biofuels in NZ is economically viable must be asked.

 

Gull New Zealand supply a high octane 10% bioethanol fuel at all their outlets. This supplements a regular octane fuel, also with 10% bioethanol. Gull’s stated vision includes the belief that a reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and that the company must fundamentally change the way they operate. Of the three independent oil companies that tried to enter the NZ market in 1998 only Gull has successfully stood the test of time.

 

David Bodger,  General Manager of Gull’s NZ operations, joined Gull four years ago after 17 years with Mobil. He has operational responsibility for Eco Tech Biodiesel, the Gull Group’s production facility, and has overseen the launch of both of Gull’s bioethanol blended fuels into NZ.

 

David will discuss Gull’s support of biofuels – an idealistic philosophy or also a market opportunity? What is the business strategy?

 

 

All welcome. RSVPs to Margot Bethell for organizational purposes would be greatly appreciated. Please email director@bioscienterprise.ac.nz or phone (09) 373 7599 ext 89625 or 0274 305 758