Norway exempt biodiesel taxes in 2011 - BRAZIL

Norway exempt biodiesel taxes in 2011

London, 20 - The government of Norway exempt biodiesel road tax only from 2011, according to the secretary of the Ministry of Finance Kjetil Lund. Yesterday, the Norwegian broadcaster NRK said in a report that the government will implement a rate of 3.50 Norwegian kroner ($ 0.62) per liter of biodiesel, making it more expensive than fossil fuels.
The tax "will be cut in half in 2010 with the aim of reaching a final exemption in 2011," said Lund, in a statement by e-mail news agency Dow Jones. But he said that biodiesel will exempt from taxes on carbon dioxide (CO?) Because it is considered a neutral fuel for the climate.

The Ministry justified the measure, which was criticized by environmental groups in Norway by hindering investment, saying that the vehicles cause other negative consequences or costs to society such as accidents, congestion and recap. These costs are independent of the choice of fuel, said Lund, and is why it is sensible to tax biofuels. He also said the government had advance that all fuels should be taxed and believes that the introduction of the tax should not have been a surprise.

Environmentalists disapproved the decision of the Labor Party in Norway - it ignored the view of allied parties and opposition - to reverse the exemption for biodiesel. The President of the Norwegian group Bellona, Frederic Hauge said yesterday that the change of attitude of the government was "an embarrassment to Norway, according to NRK, adding that it may stigmatize the country at the summit on climate in Copenhagen , Denmark.

In a speech in London, Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, said he believes "the principle of payment by pollutants. The NRK said, however, the government will donate 40 million Norwegian kroner (U.S. $ 7.09 million) to develop a second generation of biofuels based on waste of the country's forests and other sources.

Commentators have noted that the change of government policy is also bad for business, making it difficult to make investment plans. A market observer said that "with the new tax on biodiesel, there will be no advantages over fossil fuel. The production of biodiesel is more expensive and the purchase price will be even higher." The information is of Dow Jones.