A COMPANY involved in the production of a new form of environmentally friendly fuel has spread the message of its success into Europe.

Petroplus representatives addressed more than 100 oil industry delegates at the recent European Fuels Conference, in Paris, about the business and environmental benefits of using biodiesel.

For the past year the company has been making Bio-Plus, a 95/5 per cent blend of its conventional Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) with oils from renewable seed-based sources, at its Teesside Crude Oil Refinery at North Tees.

Since introducing the blend into its fleet of 22 tankers, it has seen major reductions in harmful exhaust emissions, as well as a big improvement in the overall miles per gallon fuel efficiency of the vehicles.

Ian Waller, of Petroplus, who addressed the conference, said: "The product is really taking off and everyone was extremely impressed with the environmental benefits we have noticed."

Petroplus, the UK's biggest marketer of biodiesel, is already part of a consortium of North-East businesses supporting a UK field-to-forecourt initiative where farmers are encouraged to grow oil seed rape to be used as a supplement to diesel in engines.

Teesside is also being considered as a potential location for a £25m biodiesel plant that would use thousands of tonnes of the crop as a raw material.

Published: ??/??/2004