The biofuels industry has little support from either government or government policymakers, says the head of the Southern African Biofuels Association (SABA), reports Engineering News.

Speaking at the fourth African Biofuels conference in Midrand, Andrew Makenete, president of SABA, said government officials rarely attend biofuels conferences, unlike attendance at renewable energy events.

Makenete said the policy framework for biofuels in South Africa is inadequate, adding that as it stands currently it acts more as a disincentive than an incentive for potential investors.

Also at the conference, Deloitte senior manager Kevin Baart said there was still investment potential in the biofuels industry but added that there were still positive acquisition markets and joint-venture markets.

Baart also joined Makenete in questioning the impact of PetroSA’s plans to build a 400 000-barrel-a-day oil refinery at Coega, adding that the plant would squash any demand for biofuels in the Southern African region.