Organisation of methyl ester production from rapeseed in Lithuania

Rapeseed cultivation area in Lithuania has been on a rapid increase recently from 5.2 thousand ha in 1992 to 83.8 thousand ha in 1999. Rapeseed is used not only to meet domestic needs i. e. for oil production, but also a large part of it is exported to western countries. Due to limited rapeseed demand for domestic oil production, the key rapeseed realization possibility has become rapeseed exports. 43-74% of the rapeseed grown during 1997-1999 was exported to West European countries. However, even in 1999 when rapeseed growing area reached its maximum, the crop accounted for only 3,5% of the total crop area in Lithuania. In 2000 when the policy of fixed prices and subsidies was withdrawn, rapaseed cultivation area declined to 58,2 thousand ha. This was effected by a decline in soya prices on foreign markets and high rapaseed yields in 1999, which consequently resulted in a price decline for seed of oil - bearing crops. This in turn resulted in 35-40% decline in rapeseed purchasing prices in Lithuania. Considering the fact that rapeseed demand for oil production is limited in Lithuania, it is vital to research for alternative uses of rapaseed in Lithuania. One of the alternatives is biodiesel production. An important issue in the development of the new industry in the country is infrastructure of biodiesel production. The relevance of this issue is determined by the production of biodiesel itself which involves farmers - suppliers of raw material, industry - producers of biodiesel, consumers of biodiesel - users of transport, agricultural producers and users of rapaseed meal - farmers and forage production enterprisesVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij