Asia Biofuel Corporation “ABC” was incorporated in Wyoming, United States, on March 5th, 2024, with 30% ownership held by ApexCapital.Asia Ltd and 70% by Mr. Tran Hoai Duong & Partners. Mr. Tran and his partners bring with them over 10 years of hands-on experience in managing and producing biofuels in Asia, particularly in Vietnam. They have overseen production and sales valued at US $93 million, yielding $3 million in profits despite working with limited and traditional facilities.

Raffles Capital Ltd “RC” (incorporated in Wyoming, United States) acting as venture-accelerator for promising firms that are ready and qualifying for a public listing on a North America bourse within 18-24 months of vesting. RC works with companies that can deliver social impact bringing prosperity and progress to the people and planet. These firms’ purpose must be in alignment with the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Apex Biofuel Pte Ltd “SA” is incorporated in Singapore as an Asia-based entity for central procurement, sales, banking, and investor relations. SA’s responsibilities include:

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• - Appointing outsourced production contractors “OPC” in Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
• - Procures all feedstocks from the US, Brazil, India, Pakistan, and Eastern Europe, and consigns them to the OPC for production.
• - Sells all production outputs to long-term clients in ASEAN.
• - Handles all cash inflows, outflows, and submits all financial reports to ABC.
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The biofuel market in the ASEAN region is a significant and growing sector, driven by a mix of abundant agricultural resources, government mandates, and a collective effort to promote sustainable energy sources. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are key players, each with varying degrees of biofuel production and blending mandates aimed at increasing the use of biofuels in their energy mix. For instance, Indonesia aims for B40 (40% palm-based biodiesel) by 2030 and E50 (50% ethanol) by 2050, while Malaysia has implemented B20 and E10 mandates.

ASEAN countries are among the top producers of agricultural products like palm oil and sugar cane, which are crucial feedstocks for biodiesel and ethanol production, respectively. The biofuel industry not only supports domestic energy demand but also represents a vital export commodity. Moreover, biofuel consumption in ASEAN is projected to grow at 4.7% per year until 2050, highlighting its increasing role in the regional energy landscape.

The existing challenges such as feedstock availability, the competition between food and fuel, and the high costs of production compared to conventional fuels are notable. However, the potential for advanced biofuels, derived from non-food-based feedstocks, offers a path toward sustainable production with lower greenhouse gas emissions. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand have begun research and development in advanced biofuels, signalling a shift towards more sustainable biofuel production methods.

The ASEAN biofuel market is not only a significant energy source but also a driver of economic development. By stimulating agricultural development and creating jobs across the biofuel value chain, the industry contributes to rural prosperity and economic growth. Moreover, ASEAN’s focus on biofuels enhances regional cooperation in renewable energy development, underscoring the collective effort towards achieving sustainability goals.

The ASEAN biofuel market’s growth is underpinned by supportive policies, the rising demand for sustainable energy, and the region’s vast agricultural resources. These factors, combined with strategic initiatives like the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation, position the biofuel sector as a key component of the region’s energy and economic future.

Buyers of biofuel face several pain points that can influence their decision-making process and overall satisfaction with biofuel products. These challenges include:

a. Cash Flow positive business model

ABC secures letters of credit (LC) from buyers for their one-year purchases. In turn, ABC issues corresponding LCs to suppliers of feedstock, namely corn. ABC ensures zero exposure and operates on back-to-back sales orders from customers and LCs to suppliers. Additionally, ABC can forfeit or factor the LCs for positive cash flow while offering customers credit terms without the risk of non-collection of debts.

b. Concept to Cash Cycle

For Materials Procurement, it takes up to 3 weeks for goods to arrive at ABC’s appointed factory. The production process takes 1 week. For (FOB) customers, the payment will be received by the company within 15 to 30 days from delivery of the customer’s order.

If Ex Works is used, the seller (ABC) is not obligated to load the goods on the buyer’s designated method of transport. Instead, the seller must make the product available at a selected location, and the buyer must incur transportation costs. Therefore, transportation costs and associated risks are no longer a burden for the company. For Ex Works customers, the payment will be paid on-site upon collection of goods.

Before procurement of raw materials, the company will pre-sell its by-products & biofuels. The procurement is based on the client’s order. If no order is confirmed, no procurement will be made, therefore, minimal risk to the company.

Therefore, the total time taken for ABC to complete a cash conversion cycle will be within 60 days.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Biofuels represent a renewable and sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuels. By utilizing organic materials such as plants and agricultural waste, biofuels offer a cleaner energy source that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By promoting the adoption of biofuels, communities can reduce their reliance on finite fossil fuels and move towards a more sustainable energy future.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The development and utilization of biofuels foster innovation in both technology and infrastructure. Innovations in biofuel production processes, such as advancements in feedstock cultivation, conversion technologies, and distribution networks, contribute to the goal of building resilient infrastructure. Furthermore, the biofuel industry stimulates economic growth and job creation, aligning with the objective of promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization. By investing in biofuel research and development, nations can enhance their technological capabilities and drive forward the transition towards cleaner energy sources.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Biofuels support sustainable consumption and production patterns by utilizing organic materials that can be replenished over time. Unlike fossil fuels, which are finite resources, biofuels rely on renewable feedstocks such as crops, algae, and waste biomass. By minimizing reliance on non-renewable resources and reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional fuel production, biofuels promote responsible consumption and production practices.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

One of the most significant contributions of biofuels is their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. By displacing fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide and other pollutants when burned, biofuels help reduce the overall carbon footprint of transportation and other sectors. Additionally, biofuels offer the potential for carbon neutrality when produced from sustainable feedstocks and coupled with efficient production processes.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

Sustainable biofuel production practices can contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems. By utilizing non-food crops, agricultural residues, and marginal lands for feedstock cultivation, biofuel production can help reduce pressure on valuable agricultural land and natural habitats. Furthermore, biofuel production processes can be designed to minimize soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat destruction, thereby promoting land restoration efforts and preserving biodiversity. 

With ABC’s strategy and business model, ABC can accept more orders without the usual huge capital expenditure to build a $100 million plant to fulfill additional sales orders. ABC can utilize its proprietary intellectual property ‘know-how’ on plant and equipment specification and design to assist owners of PPE in jumpstarting their biofuel production business.

OPCs are outsourced parties that receive assistance from ABC on how to secure funding for their PPE, enabling them to fulfill and deliver production services required by ABC. With ABC’s long-term lease contracts, funders are assured of loan repayments and servicing of interest. ABC procures feedstock and consigns them to the OPCs, thus relieving them of the working capital needed to pay in advance for supplies. As soon as the end product is produced and shipped out, ABC gets paid, as does the OPC.

ABC focuses on procurement, sales, and money management, while the OPC takes care of production and shipment. Each party maximizes its comparative advantages, using less capital for greater profits.