New clashes between diesel consumers and government authorities over soaring diesel prices continued this month, on the heels of earlier world-wide strikes and protests.

ASTM International’s D02 (motor fuels) committee last week voted to approve three crucial biodiesel standards, covering B5 (5%) blends, B6-20 (up to 20% biodiesel) and incorporation of a “cold soak filterability test” into the D6751 standard for pure biodiesel.

The “cold soak filterability test” aims to help avoid plugging of fuel filters. Neither the B5 nor the B6-20 ballots would have passed unless D02 also approved the filterability test.

In the latest survey month, diesel prices among the member nations of the Organization for Co-operative and Economic Development (OECD) on average rose by 8.6%, with the highest increases being in European countries at around 10%, according to the latest Oil Market Report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

U.S. stocks of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) increased, while production and imports decreased for the period of May 30 to June 13, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

On the heels of building “NExBTL” renewable diesel plants in Finland and Singapore, Neste is launching an 800,000 tons/year plant in Rotterdam, due to come on-line in 2011.

Price tag: €670 million.

Norske Skog, a global producer of newsprint and magazine paper with 18 paper mills around the world, announced June 12 that it plans with partners to build a wood-based biomass to liquids (BTL) diesel plant at Norske Skog Follum in Norway.

The partnership, called “Xynergo,” includes other Norwegian companies including Viken Skog, Allskog, Mjøsen Skog and Statskog.

Caterpillar confirmed June 12 that it won’t make highway heavy-duty diesel engines for the ultra-clean U.S. EPA 2010 emissions market, but will instead pursue global truck business opportunities with Navistar International.

Cat said it “plans to target a 2010 introduction of a North American Cat branded heavy-duty truck for severe service applications, such as road construction, large infrastructure projects and oil and petroleum development.

The latest annual “Agricultural Outlook” joint report from Organization for Economic Co-Operation & Development (OECD) and the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicates that biodiesel is going to have a tough time competing with petroleum diesel over the next 10 years.

Washington, DC – While some environmental regulators and “green” advocacy groups are pushing hard for rapid introduction of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Honda warns that these cars might turn out to be nothing more than a “technology du jour” fad.

Washington, DC – Volkswagen, the most consistent marketer of diesel cars in North America, is coming back with a U.S. EPA Tier-2, Bin-5 “Jetta” this summer – despite relatively high diesel prices.

“We’re struggling with high diesel prices, but we’re convinced the price will be going down since [refining] capacity will go up,” VW’s engine engineering director Norbert Krause explained to the Society of Automotive Engineers annual government/industry meeting here.