Markham, ON. March 2, 2004--Diesel vehicle owners, and bus and trucking fleets in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) now have a convenient local source of BioDiesel, a renewable vegetable oil-based fuel that can increase diesel engine life while dramatically reducing emissions. Topia Energy Inc. held the grand opening of Canada’s first retail BioDiesel fueling pump earlier today at 24 Main St., Unionville, Ontario.

Explaining the decision to offer BioDiesel at a retail pump, Topia Energy’s GTA Agent Sam Goldberg said, “We see this as an opportunity for individuals to experience the benefits of BioDiesel. For the past two years, only large fleets such as the City of Brampton, City of Guelph, and the City of Greater Sudbury have had the chance to use this fuel. Now diesel drivers everywhere can increase their vehicle's performance while helping to clean the environment. Our newly-opened BioDiesel pump is ideally situated near the intersection of Kennedy Rd and the 407."

The pump, the first to sell BioDiesel in Canada, will offer a blend called B20, which is 20% BioDiesel and 80% Petroleum Diesel. BioDiesel acts as a lubricity agent, prolonging the life of diesel engines, and while cleaning the fuel system, while increasing performance, Cetane and mileage. Use of B20 blends have also been found to increase power under load and fuel efficiency in a recent Canadian Government sponsored evaluation of 150 buses in Montreal.

Ottawa-based Topia Energy Inc., Canada’s largest commercial producer and supplier of BioDiesel, is supplying the fuel.

“This event marks an exciting new milestone in BioDiesel development in Canada,” said Joe Jobe, executive director of the U.S. based National Biodiesel Board. “Bringing BioDiesel blends to retail markets in Canada will further bolster our efforts to build joint U.S. – Canadian development opportunities in North America.”

“We’re glad to finally make our BioDiesel available to large and small customers alike,” said Topia Energy President Govindh Jayaraman. “This pump is a first in Canada and to provide a clean alternative to typical diesel fuel is a huge step in the right direction.”

Thousands of fleet vehicles have driven millions of kilometers using BioDiesel in Canada. It is a fuel that can be used in place of petroleum diesel in any diesel engine, generator, pump or heater, few or no engine modifications. Using BioDiesel helps to reduce waste and support Canadian agriculture because BioDiesel is a fully renewable fuel, made from local crop vegetable oils and used cooking greases. BioDiesel also produces much lower emissions than regular diesel fuels and using it improves local air quality and contributes to the reduction of smog and acid rain by significantly reducing the toxic emissions associated with petroleum diesel fuel.

BioDiesel also contributes to the health of Ontarians. Replacing Petro diesel with Topia Energy BioDiesel reduces smog and improves local air quality in one quick step. The main components in smog - ground level ozone and particulate matter - are lowered by 40% to 50% with the use of Topia Energy BioDiesel.

BioDiesel can also help Canada meet commitments under the Kyoto protocol. Use of B20 reduces life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions by up to 17%, while stimulating regional economic development in farming communities.    

"We see this location as the first of many across Ontario. In Europe there are over 800 BioDiesel stations. Two years ago there were no U.S. BioDiesel filling stations and now there are over 100," Goldberg added. "Canada produces huge amounts of canola and soybeans, which are the major components of BioDiesel. We want to support the farm economy, and the environmental benefits are very important to us as well.”

BioDiesel is helping to extend Canada’s petroleum reserves and reduce our dependency on foreign sources. BioDiesel is the only fuel to be classified as entirely non-toxic; it biodegrades faster than sugar, is ten times less toxic than table salt and produces exhaust that some say smells like popcorn or French fries.

BioDiesel can be used in its pure form (B100), or blended with petroleum diesel at any level. It significantly reduces emissions such as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and particulate matter. It is nontoxic, biodegradable and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. BioDiesel offers similar fuel economy, horsepower and torque to petroleum diesel while providing superior lubricity.

“The Certified: BioDiesel Driven program ensures that our fuel is consistently meeting the standards and specifications that automobile manufacturers set down for BioDiesel fuel,” explained Jayaraman. “Quality is important to us and it’s important that people realize that third party testing and quality control are critical elements for the future of our fuel. We’ve adopted the same passion for quality that has helped bring BioDiesel to the mainstream in Europe.” Independent labs test Topia Energy BioDiesel fuel under the Certified: BioDiesel Driven program to meet the most exacting standards in the world.

Jayaraman also announced that Topia Energy Inc. is the first company to open a BioDiesel terminal in Canada, which is also in the Greater Toronto Area. The BioDiesel terminal is a central depot that allows large tanker trucks to fill and properly blend BioDiesel to various levels before delivery to fleets and retail fueling stations.

“Opening the terminal was a first step in ensuring that we could make this move,” Jayaraman explained. “Clearly, we needed to have a large, conventional fuel distribution centre before we were able to do this. With the BioDiesel terminal now open, we’ll be able to service a number of stations like this one.”




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