Transesterification Process

STRENGTHS

1. Quite simple chemistry
   
2. Small volume bio-diesel machines are commercially available
   

WEAKNESSES

1. Relatively high labour input
   
2. Higher capital investment
   
3. Methanol involved in process (toxic & derived from fossil fuel)
   
4. Glycerol is a by-product
   
5. Relatively high direct energy input/costs
   

OPPORTUNITIES

1. Re-use glycerol (e.g. for heat process)
   
2. Methanol recovery (e.g. using waste heat)
   
3. Potential to develop process using bio-ethanol (rather than methanol)
   
4. Funding is currently available for bio-fuel production and research
   
5. Strengthening bio-fuel network
   

THREATS

1. Potential for increase in cost of methanol
   
2. Potential for increase in cost of sodium hydroxide (catalyst)
   
3. Large companies introducing 5% blend
   

Opportunity of Biodiesel:

1. Ever increasing Crude oil price.
   
2. Employment generation capacity in rural areas.
   
3. Better Utilization of fallow cultivable waste land.
   
4. Low gestation period comparative to other non-edible oil sources.
   
5. Having carbon credit value (Kyoto protocol).
   
6. Required in large quantity to sustain huge demand.
   
7. With use of Biotechnology encouraging primary result.
   

Threats towards Biodiesel:

1. Over publicity.
   
2. Abundance of misleading information.
   
3. Mall practice in input materials.
   
4. Costly input materials.
   
5. Low (no) support price for seed.
   
6. No sustainable Procurement Mechanism available in the Market.
   
7. Requirement of seed in large quantity even to fulfill demand of 5% blending with diesel.
   
8. Government strategies to wards Bio diesel project are not implemented properly.