BIOFUEL OR BUST: ONE COMPANY'S QUEST TO TRANSFORM VIETNAM'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000171 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAGR ETRD EFIN SOCI PGOV VM SUBJECT: BIOFUEL OR BUST: ONE COMPANY'S QUEST TO TRANSFORM VIETNAM'S ENERGY LANDSCAPE HO CHI MIN 00000171 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary: One enterprise in Vietnam is forging a biofuel initiative based on crude oil from a new-generation biofuel feedstock, jatropha curcus. GreenEnergy, Vietnam (GEV) has completed the first stage of its project to plant and refine crude oil from the jatropha bush, a hardy perennial plant that thrives on marginal land inhospitable to food crops common in some of Vietnam's poorest areas. In Ninh Thuan province, GVN authorities have awarded GEV an investment certificate for jatropha production and put GEV in a prime position for developing this second-generation biofuel alternative energy source. Vietnam's increasing efforts to develop biofuel options are already providing opportunities to influence energy policy through international developmental assistance, training, and investment. End Summary. From Waste Oil to Miracle Bush -------------- ¶2. (SBU) GreenEnergy, Vietnam (GEV) is an emerging player in Vietnam's nascent biofuel industry. The South Carolina native who founded the company four years ago got his start in the biofuel business by salvaging the cooking oil thrown out by some Ho Chi Minh City restaurants. He created a small-scale refining plant that converted the waste oil into biodiesel, which he then sold to local trucking end-users. Looking to broaden his reach in the burgeoning biofuel world, he dabbled in inputs such as catfish and soybean oil before discovering the widespread benefits of the jatropha plant and began "spreading the gospel of jatropha." In a February 6 meeting, the GreenEnergy founder told EconOffs that crude jatropha oil (CJO) significantly reduces greenhouse emissions and is nearly ideal as a sustainable, second-generation crop because of its unique ability to thrive in arid, marginal land unsuitable for food production (roughly 5 million hectares in Vietnam meet these criteria). Its cultivation does not displace food sources, and thus is less controversial than the use of soybean or rapeseed for biofuel; nor does it destroy forests or disturb fragile ecologies, such as in the cultivation of palm oil. He explained that in addition to jatropha's strong potential as sustainable energy alternative, it will also create fair trade economic opportunities in rural areas of Vietnam where alternatives are lacking and provide a net benefit to communities that cultivate the crop. ¶3. (SBU) Faced with fundamental unknowns in the world energy market, American Director of Business Development said that GEV's business model seeks to exploit locations with agronomic comparative advantages (abundant marginal land, lots of sunlight and cheap labor) such as Vietnam where CJO is likely to be cost competitive with petroleum. He said that GEV can currently break-even when oil is at $45/$50 per barrel and can make a profit when it rises to $60. On an international level, as governments begin requiring stricter, sustainable and certifiable guidelines, such as those likely to be adopted in the EU's Roundtable of Sustainable Biofuel, CJO will be a competitive product relative to other types of biofuels. GEV's Vision...and Government Collaboration -------------- ¶4. (U) GEV's joint venture with a publicly-traded Australian company last year has infused sufficient capital for the next two years along with technical expertise, as well as provided a platform for institutional investors seeking a "green" portfolio component. The Netherlands Development Organization (SNV),also gives technical/training support to GEV projects. In its first jatropha pilot project aimed at determining optimum cultivation practices, GEV planted 100 hectares in coastal Ninh Thuan province (five hours drive north- east of Ho Chi Minh City) and is building a refinery station powered by CJO that it hopes will become the premier center for biofuel research, development and training in Vietnam. GEV has also recently launched pilots in 14 different locations throughout eight provinces. Though still primarily in the first stage of jatropha development, GEV has also stepped one foot into the next stage: verifying large-scale commercial dynamics. It has begun to form partnerships with agricultural co-ops that will recruit farmers to plant jatropha on their own land, with the goal of producing jatropha on 10,000 hectares at each location. Ultimately, in the third stage of production, GEV envisions single or aggregated investors contracting land in localized areas and priced on a "per hectare capital expenditure" basis. ¶5. (U) GVN interest in developing alternative fuels appears to be growing. In November 2007, the government approved the production and use of biofuels and indicated it would create favorable conditions for development of the industry. GEV executives said that to date GVN has been supportive of its projects and shown cooperation on several levels. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) directed its HO CHI MIN 00000171 002.2 OF 002 research division, the Center for Biotechnology and Forestry (CBF),to develop jatropha projects and provide recommendations for the GVN's National Program on jatropha. Subsequently, CBF has approved GEV expansion plans and land allocation, provided contractual collaborations with provincial cooperatives, awarded GEV the first jatropha-only Investment Certificates for its pro-poor commercial models, and solicited its input in creating the National Action Plan. Also, there has been substantive collaboration between GVN and GEV on research and development. For example, the MARD Division of Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology plans to establish a tissue culture program at the GEV agro-station in Ninh Thuan and continue its genetic research on the jatropha germplasm. GEV sees its relationship with GVN as a critical part of its long-term strategy and expects that the economic muscle GVN used to make Vietnam the second largest coffee exporter in the world will carry over into development of the biofuel industry. Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Comment: GEV executives showed giddy optimism when talking about their vision for jatropha development in Vietnam. While efforts are still in the beginning stages, the potential for jatropha cultivation as a biofuel source in Vietnam could indeed be significant. Besides providing a cost-effective fuel alternative with greater energy security, its environmental benefits and role in poverty alleviation has not been lost on GVN, which appears to be taking active measures forward and encouraging jatropha development efforts. Large scale production of jatropha has yet to be proven, and international experts remain concerned about whether jatropha production can be ramped up to commercially viable levels. Nonetheless, the growth of this industry would provide an opportunity to influencing the direction of Vietnam's energy policy, through private investment (in companies like GreenEnergy),NGO technical assistance and professional training, or even official development assistance. End comment. ¶7. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Hanoi. DICKEY