Biofuels won't solve world energy problem: Shell

By Alex Lawler

ROME (Reuters) - Biofuels will not solve the world's energy problem, the chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell said on Sunday, amid growing criticism of their environmental and social benefits.

The remarks follow protests in Brazil and Europe against fuels derived from food crops. Food shortages and rising costs have set off rioting and protests in countries including Haiti, Cameroon, Niger and Indonesia.

"The essential point of biofuels is over time they will play a role," Jeroen van der Veer, chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell, told reporters on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum.

"But there are high expectations what role they will play in the short term."

The oil minister for Qatar, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, had harsher words to say about biofuels at the energy forum, a gathering of producers and consumers.

"Now the world is facing a shortage of food," Qatar's Abdullah al-Attiyah said, answering a question at a news conference.

"I don't think we should blame oil, we should blame biofuels."

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES