$1,8 Trillion Required to Set Up Jatropha Oil Plant'

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Date: 29 November,, 2005

Author: Peter Matambanadzo

About $1,8 trillion is required to set up an oil expressing plant for the jatropha seed to be used in bio-diesel production.

An official with the National Taskforce on Production of Bio-diesel told Herald Business yesterday that they submitted the proposal to the Government two weeks ago.

A number of funding mechanisms have also been proposed and it was hoped that infrastructure development would commence during the first quarter of next year.

Funding modalities proposed include joint ventures with foreign investors who would assist with the injection of foreign currency to import some of the equipment.

This would be done through the Government-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Scientific and Industrial Research Development Corporation (Sirdc).

However, indications were that only 30 percent of the equipment needed for the construction of the plant would be imported while 70 percent would be manufactured locally.

"We don't want to waste time. We need to start the development of infrastructure as soon as possible and we are hoping to start production in 2008 and by hat time we should have sufficient seed stocks," said an official.

The Forestry Commission would be providing 2 000 cuttings of the tree while over 10 000 cuttings were expected to be distributed countrywide by December 31.

A tonne of jatropha can produce 400 litres of bio-diesel, while a maximum of 12 tonnes seed can be harvested from one hectare.

The bio-diesel project was officially launched in Mutoko, Mashonaland East province, last month and will see 26 000 hectares being put under the plant. Under optimum production conditions, this should translate to 10 percent of the country's fuel requirements.