The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and Viet Nam National University (VNU) yesterday signed a US$5-million project to develop green technology for biodiesel production in Viet Nam.
The five-year project will focus on development of oil plants in desolate and contaminated areas, development of green technologies for biodiesel production, and the newest environmental monitoring method for biodiesel utilisation.
Chief representative of JICA Viet Nam Motonori Tsuno said that the project was necessary for Viet Nam because it was one of the countries most affected by climate change in Asia and the Pacific region.
The five-year project, entitled “Multi-beneficial measures for mitigation of climate change in Viet Nam and Indochinese countries through the development of biomass energy,” aims to establish an economically and environmentally superior biomass energy cycle (cultivation-production-utilisation) and broad use of the technology throughout the world.
Project participants include leading Japanese and Vietnamese scientists from Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka City University, Ehime University, Viet Nam National University (Ha Noi), Viet Nam National University (HCM City) and the Institute of Environmental Technology.
“Biodiesel fuel will be produced from inedible local plant oils through the use of green technology. The use of biodiesel will not produce extra carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and will therefore limit global warming and help to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said Professor Yasuaki Maeda from Osaka Prefecture University.
