RHB Bank Bhd, will offer loans and guarantees to companies that want to participate in carbon credit trading. A collaboration with Japan Carbon Finance Ltd (JCF) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by the three companies to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

New Zealand's Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD) has warned companies in the country that they need to be aware of a growing international trend to identify companies' carbon emission status – and direct investment away from what are seen to be 'carbon dogs'.

This is the first biodiesel refinery constructed by the Houston-based company, and it is expected to produce about three million gallons of fuel each year.

Romanian vegetable oil producer Ulerom Vaslui, owned by businessman Adrian Porumboiu, will begin production of biodiesel in a factory in Vaslui beginning 2007. Ulerom signed a contract with US-based group Greenline Industries, which will construct the biodiesel production facility.

The China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), the country's main fuel ethanol producer, plans to build a 300,000-ton-per-annum fuel ethanol plant in Hengshui, Hebei Province.

A Malaysian business is reported to be in talks to take control of UKFuelTech Ltd, a UK biodiesel equipment manufacturer.

Brazil's state-owned oil refiner Petrobras yesterday signed new contracts for the purchase of a further 170 million litres of biodiesel from several domestic producers. The documents were signed at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace. The Brazilian government, already a leader in alternative transport fuels, is hoping to provide further incentives to biodiesel production by introducing a mandatory biofuels component in all fuel sold in the country.

One month after the deadline, the Commission is preparing legal action against 18 member states who have failed to submit their CO2 quota plan in time for the next phase of the EU emissions trading scheme starting in 2008.