France revved up the engine of its bid to stay in the top ranks of European producers of "green fuels" by announcing a big tender on Tuesday for more biodiesel and ethanol.

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said France would also be defending the interests of farmers by launching a tender for 1.1 million tonnes of biofuel capacity by the end of the year, comprising 950,000 tonnes biodiesel and 150,000 tonnes ethanol.