Jatropha as Biodiesel Alternative

©image: Wikipedia

"Even considering its limitations, growing Jatropha curcas L. is one of the best alternatives for producing biodiesel" in the hemisphere, assured Jamil Macedo, Coordinator of an regional agro energy network.

According to Macedo, using Jatropha for biodiesel production carries several benefits: "its seeds have great performance producing high quality oils; it is perennial (no need for yearly renewing each plantation) and highly adaptable; and it has no food value, so it doesn't compete with food agriculture".

Source: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

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April 2008

With the goal of strengthening and promoting cooperation under the MesoAmerican Biofuel Project framework, which in turn is part of the Puebla to Panama Plan, Colombia's Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry last September signed a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation in biofuels with El Salvador .

To carry out the project, the ministry delivered to the Colombian Corporation of Agricultural Research (Corpoica) two billion pesos to get the project started.

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August 2008

Existing companies have the infrastructure to produce 40 thousand gallons, which is equal to 6% of the total national demand for fuel.

The production of bio-diesel in the country is a "win-win" project, the executive director of the Salvadoran Business Council for Sustainable Development, Luis López Lindo, said.

Bio-diesel production starts in El Salvador

February 2009

In April the pilot plant, donated by Colombia, was inaugurated. It will have the capacity to produce 10 thousand liters of bio-diesel per day.

Elsalvador.com reports on its website: "The pilot plant, which was installed in October 2008 at the National Center for Agriculture and Forestry Technology (Centa), will have the capacity to produce 10 thousand liters of bio-diesel per day, on a 10 hour shift, from palm and fig oils and even from recycled oils. However they are still awaiting an oil extraction modules."

Bio-fuel Crop Areas in Guatemala

December 2010

According to a study by the OAS, the country has at least one million hectares suitable for cultivation of bio-fuel.

The report was commissioned by the Organization of American States (OAS) to the firm Hart Energy and was delivered this week the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).