Oil surge fuels biodiesels

From Britain to mainland Europe soaring fuel prices have triggered angry protests.

These should, then, be good times for the biodiesel business.

Comparatively it's a lot greener and cheaper.

But there's been a backlash.

Surging food prices are partly blamed on farms growing biofuels instead of traditional crops.

No such ethical dilemmas exist for London-based Pure Fuels.

That's because it's fuel comes from this -- deep fried cooking oil.

Once refined it's roughly ten pence less a litre than its diesel equivalent.

And despite popular belief, punters insist smell is not a problem.

SOUNDBITE: London motorist, saying (English):

"Inside the car it doesn't smell at all. So long as you're not smelling kebabs or fish and chips you are alright. Doesn't make the tummy rumble, but it's okay."

But there's a downside to this biodiesel powered bandwagon.

Soaring demand and supply issues have sparked a price boom.

Quenton Kelly is a commercial buyer.

SOUNDBITE: Quenton Kelly, Green Miles, commercial buyer, saying (English):

"(There's not just money to be made, but) there are many people taking advantage of the changes in the fuel duty laws last year whereby people could produce 2,500 litres of fuel for themselves and not pay road fuel duty on it. So you get a lot of people are making biodiesel or in some cases just using cleaned used cooking oil as a fuel in their own cars. So really everybody wants it nowadays."

Tom Lasica is founder of Pure Fuels.

He says rampant wholesale prices are a big worry.

SOUNDBITE: Tom Lasica, founder, Pure Fuels, saying (English):

"(Two weeks ago,) three weeks ago we were still paying 30p. Now we're paying up to 45p. But I was offered oil yesterday at 60p. Now without going into huge mathematical scenarios at 60p there is no way in the world you can be making it and selling it under the price of the pumps."

To guarantee survival, Lasica is now urgently calling for government tax breaks.

Only then, he says, can the industry (truly( become more than just a token energy alternative.

Darcy Lambton, Reuters.

trigger - put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction"
backlash - a movement back from an impact
surging - characterized by great swelling waves or surges; "billowy storm clouds"; "the restless billowing sea"; "surging waves"
punter

noun 1. gambler, better, backer, punt chiefly Brit.

noun 2. (Informal) customer, guest, client, patron, member of the audience

noun 3. (Informal) person, guy (informal) fellow, bloke Brit. (informal) man in the street
tummy - The human stomach or belly
rumble - To make a deep, long, rolling sound.

wholesale - The sale of goods in large quantities, as for resale by a retailer.