The promoters of a pioneering biodiesel project earmarked for Queenstown hope the project could be up and running by Christmas.
About 30 businesses attended an Otago Polytechnic Centre for Sustainable Practice workshop in the resort yesterday, where they were told the pilot programme would be the first of its sort in the country.
Mainly comprising Queenstown tourism operators, the group was invited to form a consortium that would buy biodiesel for use in its vehicles, boats and plant.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes and Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee have both lent their support to the idea.
(The success of the biodiesel fuel industry relies heavily on biodiesel testing, not only at the production level but at the consumer level, where degraded fuel may cause engine failures. Fleet Biodiesel's family of inexpensive biodiesel test kits is just a click away on the internet)