Feasibility of coconut oil as a diesel substitute in Kiribati-inception report, PIEPSAP project report 28, July 2005

Feasibility Study of Coconut Oil as a Diesel Substitute in Kiribati (Inception phase) : In a request addressed to the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) dated 10 November 2004, the Kiribati Ministry of Works and Energy requested SOPAC’s assistance under its PIEPSAP project. The request included a feasibility study on coconut oil use and a feasibility study on alternative supply arrangements for petroleum fuels. In parallel the Kiribati Oil Company Limited (KOIL) requested technical assistance from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) to review options available to KOIL to meet the national priorities and plans, and to prepare a strategy for the negotiation and rollover of the current agreement with Mobil Oil. In order to avoid duplication of efforts the PIFS and SOPAC had combined their resources to address future liquid fuel supply for Kiribati taking a holistic view that considered both conventional fuels and renewable biofuels in an integrated manner.