VINA DEL MAR, CHILE, December 28, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Energy Partners Chile Ltd. (EPC) has made a historic step toward easing the electrical power crisis in Chile, while minimizing the environmental impact. By using a mixture of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum-based diesel (a blend known as "B20"), EPC will reduce its emissions in its 43MW generation plant "Degan" on the island of Chiloe. As EPC and their partners build more generating plants in Chile (over 265MW under construction), they too are prime candidates to use biodiesel from Gold Star Biofuels.
To support this contract, Gold Star Biofuels will construct small biodiesel plants throughout the country, initiating with the first commercial-scale biodiesel production in Chile. These are zero emission plants that reduce the impact of shipping by minimizing the distance between biodiesel production and its use.
As soon as possible, Gold Star will begin the first commercial cultivation of jatropha trees in Chile. Within two years, EPC will be generating power from Chilean grown and refined jatropha oil. The advantage of jatropha for Chile is that it can thrive on marginal soil where food crops can not grow. Jatropha is drought resistant so it requires little or no irrigation and Gold Star's farming practices are gentle to the Earth. Gold Star manually plants, tends and harvests jatropha year-round, creating many rural jobs for a sustainable economy as well as a sustainable environment.
EPC is constantly working to improve its ability to provide Chile with clean electrical power. Their plants have been enhanced with the latest technology to minimize emissions and noise and now run with extreme efficiency to reduce the cost of electricity in Chile.
This is a significant event for Chile as well as for EPC and Gold Star Biofuels which will benefit the people of Chile, its economy and the environment.
Ma. Soledad Diaz /Ma. Eugenia Diaz M.
Press Contacts
Gold Star Chile Ltd.
[email protected]
www.goldstarfarms.com
www.emprasasEPC.cl
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