Most of the foreign exchange of Pakistan is consumed by the import of fuel. The annual demand for diesel is about 10 million tons, a large portion of which is imported. President Asif Ali Zardari has recently set up a committee to formulate a proposal for 50 per cent reduction in diesel imports by alternative sources of energy. Jatrophoa offers great prospect to offset the impact of import of diesel and as alternate for import of fuel. Jatropha, known as ‘Ratanjyot’ or ‘Jangli Errund’, is a small shrub three to five meters in height. The fruits are bi-lobed capsules, ovoid green, and in cluster of 7-10, which on ripening turn yellow or dark coloured.
A comparative study has proved that among non-edible oil plants, Jatropha curcas is one of the most important plants for production of bio-diesel. It is also a sustainable option among bio-energy crops largely grown in most parts of the tropical and subtropical countries on marginal and non-productive lands.
India has already cultivated Jatropha curcas on 500,000-600,000 hectares. British Petroleum (BP) has invested 32 million pounds sterling in a joint venture with the British bio-fuel firm D.I. Oils to further expand Jatropha cultivation and production. About 80 oil extraction units and several local micro-refineries provide bio-diesel on small scale for running local tractors, irrigation pumps, jeeps and village power generators etc.
China has cultivated Jatropha on two million hectares and plans to grow it on another 11 million hectares. Similarly Myanmar plans to plant it on several million hectares, and Philippines on 50,000 hectares. To discourage cultivation of poppy in Afghanistan, Americans have provided saplings of Jatropha with the offer to buy bio-diesel from it. The US intends to plant Jatropha over one million hectares in Afghanistan.
In Africa, Jatropha is also being cultivated in various countries with that purpose in mind. In southern Egypt, the desert area has been converted into greenbelt by large scale planting of Jatropha. In South Africa, the Emerald Oil International (Pvt.) Ltd. has initiated a bio-diesel plant in Durban, which will produce 100,000 tons of bio-diesel per year and plans to import Jatropha curcas oil or its seeds for oil extraction from African states.
The jatropha plant produces nuts after two to three years. The economic yield, however, stabilises after 4-5 years and continues to produce seeds for 50 years. The nuts of Jatropha possess high oil content between 35 and 40 per cent. These plants yield about 1-3 tons of seeds per acre, depending upon the soil condition and management techniques. In well managed areas, one acre of Jatropha produces about 0.45 to 0.6 metric ton of oil. The oil has triglycerides, which when chemically treated with lower alcohols in the presence of catalyst results in fatty acid esters, which possesses striking resemblance with petroleum derived diesel and is called bio-diesel. From 4kg oil approximately one liter of biodiesel can be produced.
A comparative study has proved that among non-edible oil plants, Jatropha curcas is one of the most important plants for production of bio-diesel. It is also a sustainable option among bio-energy crops largely grown in most parts of the tropical and subtropical countries on marginal and non-productive lands.
India has already cultivated Jatropha curcas on 500,000-600,000 hectares. British Petroleum (BP) has invested 32 million pounds sterling in a joint venture with the British bio-fuel firm D.I. Oils to further expand Jatropha cultivation and production. About 80 oil extraction units and several local micro-refineries provide bio-diesel on small scale for running local tractors, irrigation pumps, jeeps and village power generators etc.
China has cultivated Jatropha on two million hectares and plans to grow it on another 11 million hectares. Similarly Myanmar plans to plant it on several million hectares, and Philippines on 50,000 hectares. To discourage cultivation of poppy in Afghanistan, Americans have provided saplings of Jatropha with the offer to buy bio-diesel from it. The US intends to plant Jatropha over one million hectares in Afghanistan.
In Africa, Jatropha is also being cultivated in various countries with that purpose in mind. In southern Egypt, the desert area has been converted into greenbelt by large scale planting of Jatropha. In South Africa, the Emerald Oil International (Pvt.) Ltd. has initiated a bio-diesel plant in Durban, which will produce 100,000 tons of bio-diesel per year and plans to import Jatropha curcas oil or its seeds for oil extraction from African states.
The jatropha plant produces nuts after two to three years. The economic yield, however, stabilises after 4-5 years and continues to produce seeds for 50 years. The nuts of Jatropha possess high oil content between 35 and 40 per cent. These plants yield about 1-3 tons of seeds per acre, depending upon the soil condition and management techniques. In well managed areas, one acre of Jatropha produces about 0.45 to 0.6 metric ton of oil. The oil has triglycerides, which when chemically treated with lower alcohols in the presence of catalyst results in fatty acid esters, which possesses striking resemblance with petroleum derived diesel and is called bio-diesel. From 4kg oil approximately one liter of biodiesel can be produced.
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