Pacific Adventist University produces Biofuel

The Pacific Adventist University in Papua New Guinea has started producing biofuel. The fuel is produced from waste materials. At least 9,000 litres of used oil waste from various Hotels and a business house within Port Moresby has assisted greatly with the Pacific Adventist University’s production of biodiesel.

The diesel is currently being used to fuel all vehicles belonging to the University before it can be certified for commercial purposes. 

The hotels that have supported the PAU Biodiesel Research and Development Project (through the supply of their oil waste) are Holiday Inn, Ela Beach Hotel, Hideaway Hotel, Crown Plaza, Laguna Hotel, Airways including the Paradise Foods and PAU’s student mess.

This was made known during a site visit today to PAU by the Minister for Higher Education, Science and Research, Malakai Tabar, by the Dean for the School of Science and Technology, PAU, Dr Darren BITO. 

“When we started our project in 2013, we based our assumptions on a study 2010 by one of our Principal Investigator Under-graduate student who estimated that there was 10,000 litres of waste cooking oil flowing out of the kitchens of hotels and restraunts within Port Moresby,” said Dr Bito.

About 500 litres of waste cooking oil at this small project site can produce at least 80% of that same oil converted at least 400 litres of biodiesel. 

“When we were going around and meeting with hotels to assist us with this project, we visited the LNG SITE and they told us that if you want us to help you, you will need to show us your waste management plan and this got us thinking about how we should also include this in our project and we have,” said Dr Bito.

The project has 5 objectives and has reached its first 2 with assistance funding from the Office of Higher Education and the PNG Science and Technology Secretariat, but it will need a total of K400,000 in order to finish its 3 last objectives of this vital project. One PNG/PNG VIllage