engleski

Conditions of more intensive usage of biofuels in connection with the integration of Croatia into the EU

Intensive usage of conventional fossil fuels in the past had harmful consequences such as unacceptable atmosphere pollution and global warming. Therefore, environmental protection, well symbolized by the motto "clean energy for the World", becomes a strategic target in many countries worldwide as well as the Republic of Croatia. More intensive usage of clean energy (natural gas, biofuels, ethanol or other kind of energy, especially electricity produced in the renewable sources' facilities) is a prerequisite of the entire Croatian development in the coming years. Nowadays, Croatia is under the negotiation process for joining the EU. Hence, Croatia should implement the EU's new energy policy. The European energy plan targets big carbon cuts, therefore a significant share of biofuels' usage, as a usual form of clean energy, is a consequence of the EU's new energy policy unveiled in January 2007 by the European Commission. The postulates valued in the EU concerning promotion of biofuels and clarification of the related obligations which Croatia as a candidate for the membership has to fulfill are analyzed in the paper. Contents of the regulative accepted in Croatia regarding more intensive usage of biofuels is considered. Special attention is paid to the share of biofuels that should be delivered to the Croatian market, towards fulfilling the national target of 5.75% share of biofuels in total motor fuel consumption by the end of 2010, as it is stated in the Regulation on biofuels quality. The considered biofuels quantity included in the Plan of placing biofuels on the domestic market for 2007 is 20, 000 t/year. That quantity is based on the domestic current and expected production of biofuels (mainly biodiesel which absolute dominates the Croatian market nowadays, because the producers choose to produce it). Furthermore, some incentives for biofuels (such as adequate tax exemption) are suggested in the paper, taking into account accepted praxis and results in the EU for biofuels production and utilization in order to fulfill the national target of biofuels share in total fuel supply.

biofuels ; biodiesel ; biofuels quality ; incentives for biofuels

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