A novelty in Macedonia The first domestic bio-diesel is produced in Makedonska Kamenica The Association of People with Disabilities “Zvezda” from Makedonska Kamenica has been the only producer of bio-diesel in Macedonia for several years now. The production is still in its experimental phase and it is part of the project “Sustainable production of bio-diesel from a waste cooking oil”, financed by GEF. The fuel goes to the Association of Women-Farmers “Agro-Vinka”. The overall technology for producing the bio-fuel is owned by Blagoj Mihailovski, president of “Zvezda”, who, together with his brother, became interested in producing fuel from various oils as early as in his high-school days. The project’s goal is reduction of glass particles emission by organized collection of the waste fuel from the restaurants and its transforming into bio-diesel for personal use in the agriculture. “The idea for producing bio-diesel comes from a long time ago, where in a magazine, I read that the peanut oil can be used for producing fuel. At first, we improvised in home conditions, producing fuel from different oils. None of it had the necessary quality to be used. Two attempts ended without success after we had tried the fuels out on our own vehicles – the vehicles broke down. Since then, in order to come to the level of personal production I am at now, using my own technology, I read a lot of professional literature – books and information I found on the Internet”, says Blagoj. He also read articles in newspapers on the energetic value of fats and on the experiences of Austrian scientists, since Austria is a leader in the production of bio-diesel in Europe. In his plant In Makedonska Kamenica he constructed all machines necessary for the production process by himself, except for the reactor, which was a donation from the British Embassy. However, Blagoja says, in order to turn from the whole thing from idea into real production, the most important moment was the meeting with the donor – the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) a year ago. From them, he asked for and got a grant of 16 000 dollars for opening a plant. The formal opening ceremony took place in February this year. Among the present was the British Ambassador Robert Chaterton Dickson and the donors from GEF. By entering the project, Mihailovski signed a contract for using sunflower oil from several bigger restaurants, such as “Mac Donald’s”, “Kaj Zlate”, “Mrs” and the Student Centre “Kuzman Josifovski Pitu”. That was the moment when the real production of bio-diesel started in our country. Now, the monthly production reaches 1 tone which is completely used by women farmers, that is by the machines they use. They, according to the project, produce rape from which the bio-diesel will be produced in the future. So far, 3 hectares have been cultivated. The first harvest is expected, but the association’s plans are to plant 30 hectares of rape and to raise the production continuously. In this phase of the project, the bio-diesel is not being sold, but it is given for free to the farmers. Blagoj also uses it for his vehicle. The consumption of vehicles that use bio-diesel is approximately the same as the one of those that use the standard diesel. The difference is that the bio-diesel does not pollute the environment. “Everyone recognizes my car when I drive by. Its characteristic is that instead of sulfur, the exhaust fumes smell of fried potatoes”, says Blagoj. The product is of good quality, it is produced according to European standards and it has a certificate from OKTA. “The bio-diesel does not pollute the environment at all. It a totally environmentally-friendly fuel, containing zero sulfur. It is the fuel of the future, which is a very attractive product in many European countries at the moment. They invest a lot of money in the technology for its production there. According to the recommendations from the European Union, by 2012, 20% of a liter fuel, will have to be a bio-diesel”, explains Blagoj. The project will be financed by GEF for a year more, and they hope at “Zvezda” that it may continue in future. They have big plans for the future. It takes a lot to invest to get the first liters of bio-diesel for commercial use. It takes a bigger plant, organized collection of waste oil, placement, employing more people and other conditions. One great advantage is that we have the technology, it is our Macedonian technology! Blagoj’s creativity did not stop at the production of bio-diesel. He has also solved the problem of waste from the production process – it will be used in the future for producing glycerin and fertilizers. A special plant and trained individuals will be required for that as well. “We already have problems with the space. If we want to get to work seriously, we need to have our own plant which will be suitable both in technical and spatial terms for a bigger production of bio-diesel. The transport of the waste oil is another problem, since we do not have an appropriate vehicle. For the time being, I go to Skopje with my own private vehicle and I bring oil from the restaurants. In the same way, I bring the fuel to the farmers. Still, it will not be possible to increase the production under these terms.”, says Mihailovski. Several people including him are the only experts working in the plant. They need help from young and educated people, and in our country, there is not even a laboratory that will certify the product and guarantee its quality. For now, the association “Zvezda” has no help from the country, apart from the contact with the Minister Gligor Taskovikj, who promised to provide them contacts with similar companies from the European countries. In Macedonia, it is the only association engaged in the production of bio-diesel. From there, they say that people interested in the technology pay them visits frequently, but so far, no one has started to deal with it more seriously. “The financier, GEF, will continue to support the project until February 2008. From then on, the production will continue independently with a minimal reimbursement of the direct costs by the beneficiaries, that is, the farmers”, says Zlatko Samardziev, GEF National Coordinator. So far, the civil society associations cannot make profit, and they can use the bio-diesel only for personal needs. But, as the time goes, Samardziev explains, Macedonia and the other actors will adjust themselves with legal and financial instruments to the need of producing and trading with bio-diesel. According to the regulations, GEF does not support profitable organizations and institutions, only non-for-profit civil society associations. However, Samardziev says, the associations can adjust themselves to the existing laws so that they can survive and become sustainable. “We honestly hope that our activities will lead to alleviating the existing ones, or to new regulations that will help all the interested parties in the production and the use of the bio-diesel. The direct farming producers will benefit most of it, then the people with special needs, the marginalized groups like the unemployed, the women, the socially threatened and many others”, emphasized Samardziev.  Get the first liters of bio Sanja Naumovska