COCOGEN Project : A number of Pacific Island countries have started to consider biofuels as a strategic renewable energy option. First successful trials to use straight coconut oil (CNO) have been undertaken in Fiji, Marshall Islands New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Both the University of the South Pacific and the University of Papua New Guinea have started scientific research on the subject. In general opportunities exist to utilize CNO and other vegetable oils as an alternative fuel for transport and electricity generation. Thus the objectives of this project were to;
a) Determine the resource, technical, institutional, regulatory, economic and financial feasibility of the substitution of coconut oil to diesel fuel oil (DFO) in EPC's power generation; and b) Prepare a Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Operational Program (OP)-6 Medium Size Project (MSP) Brief for promotion of coconut oil-based power generation, and accompanying barrier removal activities.
