Jatropha: Viable Source of Biofuel

Its seeds contain oil that can be blended with coventional gasoline or diesel to make ‘biodiesel’, an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. In its pure state, the oil can be used for cooking, lighting or generating electricity. And the range of by-products includes ‘glycerin’ - used in cosmetics - and ‘seed cake’, which is re-processed and used as an organic fertilizer. Moreover, its waste can be turned into charcoal briquettes.



Jatropha, locally known as tuba-tuba, is considered to be the “green gold”, a cash crop that can boost rural incomes in poor countries while helping adress issues ranging from climate change to soil erosion..


As per study, Jatropha trees can produce seeds for more than 30 years. Each tree produces between five to fiteen kilograms of seeds, three times a year.
Nowadays the most talked about development in the biodiesel industry is the breakthrough on jatropha curcas as potential source of biodiesel.


Jatropha biodiesel was produced for the first time in the United Kingdom by D1 Oils using its D1 20 refinery.

The biodiesel produced from the process meets the European EN14214 and the American ASTM D6571 standards.

Moreover, analysis of jatropha crude oil shows that is is comparable to bunker fuel.
Because of these breakthroughs, D1 Oils, a UK biodiesel producer, continues its worldwide research-production expanding interest in the Philippines.

Biogreen Energy, a Malaysian firm, is preparing to sign an agreement with Philippine National Oil Company - Alternative Fuels Corp (PNOC-AFC) on the establishment of jatropha nursery and plantation in two different locations in the country.

While details are still on the process, discussion would include the land, seeding supply, crude oil processing for both local and export consumption, and biodiesel pricing.

Under the MOU, Biogreen should be able to produce about 30 million seedlings within two years in each of the two locations that would be agreed upon by the two parties. This should be enought to supply for PNOC-AFC’s planned 700,000 hectares jatropha plantation all over the country.

In a study entitled Biodiesel 2020: A Global Market Survey, it states that “the global market for biodiesel is poised for explosive growth in the next ten years.”

Currently, Europe represents 90% of global biodiesel consumption and production, but the US is now ramping up production at a faster rate. Brazil, however is expected to surpass US and European production by the year 2015.”

The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its 5-year outlook report, estimates that the world biofuel production will nearly double in 2011 to 1.2 million barrerls per day from the 2005 level of 650,000 barrels.

The report also said that Brazil, the US and European Union will account for the biggest share of biofuel production increases; and, that Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand are looking at Europe and the US as potential biofuel export markets.

With the ever increasing interest in biodiesel fuels, we may one day get used to the idea that fuel for our vehicles was harvested from our local plantations, instead of using imported oil from fossil fuel producing countries.(S)