By Alena Mae S. Flores

San Carlos Bioenergy Inc., the country?s first integrated fuel ethanol distillery and power co-generation facility, has delivered its first shipment of 1.6 million liters to Petron Corp.

San Carlos said in a statement that it shipped ethanol to Petron on March 16.

The delivery is preceded by volume lifted by truck for the Visayas market on March 13.

?SCBI?s production is dedicated to meet part of the country?s fuel ethanol requirements, as mandated by the Biofuels Law of 2006. The fuel ethanol meets the Philippine national standards set by the Energy Department,? the company said.

The Biofuels Law requires a 10 percent ethanol blend for gasoline starting February.

San Carlos? ethanol facility, costing about P2.5 billion, is located in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

The company is positioned to deliver on the twin objectives of energy security and environmental sustainability.

The San Carlos project will displace approximately 15 percent of the country?s imported petroleum, based on the 5 percent mandate to be implemented from 2009 to 2011.

Construction of the facility started in the last quarter of 2006.