One day, Dubai and the rest of the oil-rich Middle East will no longer be able to take oil from the ground. The economy instead will run on biofuels and renewable electricity.

One man knows this and is already succeeding in creating a demand and a market for biodiesel. Let's hear what he has to say.

Yousif Lootah (right), is the 23-year old whizz-kid managing director of Lootah Fuels. 

Do vehicles need to be modified in order to run on this biodiesel?  

According to European biodiesel board and Engine Manufacturers Biodiesel blends from 2 percent to 20 percent can be used in most diesel equipment with no modifications in the engine. Biodiesel blends higher than B20 require special handling, different engine specifications, labeling, and other controls to adequately protect consumers. Right now we supply biodiesel B5 which is 5% of biodiesel and 95% of ultra-low sulphur petroleum diesel.

The recommended limits in the guidelines established by Worldwide Fuel Charter Committee is 5% biodiesel by volume (B5) which is suitable for use in vehicles with compression ignition. we may supply any percentage of blends up to B20 as per the requirement and demand of our valuable customers.

Above: Used vegetable oil collection training.

How does it compete on price?

We are cheaper than the public diesel price because we are getting the raw material for a very good price,  so that is why we can compete on price, although we are not operating in the UAE.

Is it on public sale?

Yes it is very much available for public sale. Anyone can come to our fueling stations and can easily pump and go. We have four stations strategically located across Dubai.

We provide biofuel on cash and credit both. We collect used cooking oil from restaurants, food chains, bakeries which is converted into biodiesel through our German based fully automated production plant. The final product which is biodiesel B100 is then blended with ultra-low sulphur petroleum diesel in the ratio of 5:95. The obtained biodiesel B5 is then transported to our fuel stations. 

Biodiesel pump.

Will it be widely available?

Right now we are producing biodiesel for Dubai's fuel requirement which is widely available. But we do have plans to expand following the increase in demand of biodiesel. We have plans to expand business throughout the UAE.

As of now the demand for the used cooking oil is limited for its conversion into biodiesel. Undoubtedly the UAE has become the hub of restaurants thereby having a great potential to deliver used cooking oil in large quantity.

Since biofuel is a new concept in the regions that's why its demand is not able to match up the supply of used cooking oil. But with the growing demand of biofuel in the region I can anticipate the lowering of the gap between the demand and supply of biofuel and used cooking oil.

Has there been a carbon balance equation done that estimates the carbon emissions involved in producing and delivering the biodiesel?

As per the National Biodiesel Board and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), following are the levels of reduction in the carbon emissions after using biodiesel:

• CO: 45%
• CO₂: 48%
• PM (Particulate Matter): 47%
• 1 liter of conventional petroleum diesel produces 2.6 kilo grams of CO₂
• 1 liter of biodiesel produces 2.4 kilo grams of CO₂

How much do you spend on R&D?

2-5% of our revenue is spent on research and development. It does not require that much. We are not making a nuclear program! Most of the research has been done worldwide already. We just take this and we add to it.

Lootah Biofuels has a dedicated R&D department for research and quality testing purpose. In order to meet the world class technological developments in the biofuel industry, our R&D department takes lead in its research programs to provide the best quality product.

Lootah Biofuels is focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies for UAE's growth and export potential in the biofuels. We keep an eye on latest technological advancements in the world and try to develop the same with locally available expertise and know-how.

What about getting biofuels from algae?

We are researching getting biodiesel from algae. Lootah Biofuels has signed a joint venture research contract with Singapore-based algae oil producers AlgaOil Limited to develop raw materials for biofuels such as algae oil. The project will combine local engineering with algae cultivation knowledge and infrastructure in order to set up a project to produce biofuel from algae.

After extensive high-end research on microalgae cultivation, researchers will set up open ponds for large-scale algae production.

Project leaders are also researching optimizations of photobioreactors (PBR) and solar-powered, open pond constructions for large-scale algae production to ascertain the benefits of producing algae in the Middle East.  This research includes the uses of the high-value algae biomass as fish food for fish hatcheries.

What about mileage?

The technology gives more mileage than normal diesel. We tested this with some of our customers and this is what they reported. When we use biodiesel we have more mileage. 

The fuel efficiency of biodiesel depends on its blend, quality, and load conditions under which the fuel is burnt. High quality biodiesel will result in higher fuel efficiency as compared to conventional diesel.

The above is a follow-up to an article I posted in February about another company that was about to start selling biodiesel in Dubai made from waste vegetable oil.

A local journalist, Yasser Al Amir who writes for SANEOU AL HADATH Magazine, got in touch and invited me to send questions that he would then put to Lootah together with his own questions. The above is the result.

David Thorpe is the author of:

• Solar Technology: The Earthscan Expert Guide to Using Solar Energy for Heating, Cooling and Electricity 
• Energy Management in Buildings: The Earthscan Expert Guide
• The 'One Planet' Life: A Blueprint for Low Impact Development
• Sustainable Home Refurbishment: The Earthscan Expert Guide to Retrofitting Homes for Efficiency, and
• Energy Management in Industry: The Earthscan Expert Guide.