Title: Multi-criteria approach to assess stakeholders preferences for selection of biodiesel feedstock in Vietnam

Authors: Dinh Sy Khang; Michael Angelo B. Promentilla; Raymond R. Tan; Naoya Abe; Phan Dinh Tuan; Luis F. Razon

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines ' Department of Chemical Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines ' Department of Chemical Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines ' Department of International Development Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan ' Department of Environment, Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resource and Environment, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam ' Department of Chemical Engineering, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines

Abstract: Biodiesel has been proposed as an alternative to petroleum diesel fuel in Vietnam but Vietnam is a net importer of vegetable oil. Decision-makers face challenges in crafting a long-term policy for sustainable development of biodiesel that balances social, technological, economic and environmental aspects. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was applied in this study to find the most appropriate feedstock for biodiesel production in Vietnam among three possible options: jatropha oil, fish fat and waste cooking oil. The judgments of different Vietnamese stakeholders, such as academics, heads of biodiesel projects, managers in Petrovietnam Corporation, and engineers were incorporated. The stakeholders showed different preferences as reflected in the priority weights of criteria and alternatives. The priority weights of alternatives under the judgments of multiple stakeholders indicate that waste cooking oil is the most preferred feedstock to produce biodiesel in Vietnam followed by jatropha oil and fish fat.

Keywords: multicriteria decision analysis; MCDA; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; stakeholder preferences; biodiesel feedstock; Vietnam; jatropha oil; waste cooking oil; alternative feedstock; fish fat; biofuels; sustainable development; sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2016.075738

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2016 Vol.10 No.2/3/4, pp.306 - 331

Received: 15 Dec 2014
Accepted: 16 Jul 2015
Published online: 01 Apr 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article