Nerdy Science Blog

Air New Zealand hoped to use jatropha oil for 10% of its needs by 2013. Poisonous Central American shrub, Jatropha, was studied by scientists to turn the extracted oil into jet fuel. Tee jatropha oil was significantly cheaper than the skyrocket crude oil. The jatropha oil was estimated $43 per barrel, and there were no side effects of other biofuels (such as deforestation, ethanol production, etc.). The shrub could be grown in difficult environment, as it did not require much water and fertilizer. Jet-engine maker Rolls-Royce will made one of the four engines compatible with jatropha biofuel. Air New Zealand will test flight from fields in southeastern Africa and India.

(news [pic])

Popularity: 1% [?]

Energy Current (8/5/2008):

Mission also intends to begin producing biodiesel from jatropha seeds next year. The biodiesel producer has contracted 200,000 acres (80,937 hectares) of farmland in Malaysia to grow jatropha and expects to expand the land area to increase to 750,000 acres (303,514 hectares) by the end of 2008. The total land area is expected to increase to 1.5 million acres (607,000 hectares) in 2009 and 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) in 2010.

Bernama (5/5/2008):

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) — Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to cooperate in development of the jatropha industry under the ambit of renewable energy, the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry said Monday.

The cooperation will cover research and development (R&D) activities related to agronomic practices, breeding of quality seeds and processing technologies, the ministry said in a statement.

Bernama (14/5/2008):

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 (Bernama) — The government is looking at the possibility of using jatropha oil as a raw material for the production of biodiesel in the future, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said.

However, this is still at the research and development stage and it has not reached the commercialisation stage yet, he said.

The current use of palm oil and other vegetable oils as fuel has raised differing views as well as competition on their use as fuel or food sources, he said.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Since Malaysia government funded research in Jatropha as biodiesel, the government were encouraging more farmers to take part in planting Jatrophas.

Don’t buy jatropha seeds, says R&D body

Farmers taking part in research project would be give free seedlings

KUCHING: Farmers who have registered with Alam Widuri Biotek Sdn Bhd to participate in its Research and Development (R&D) Scheme or Community Development Project (CDP) need not buy any seeds to start their jatropha farms.

The company’s managing director Johnny Lee said those who had signed-up for the project would be given free seedlings. Hence buying the seeds was not encouraged.

“All they (registered participants) need to do is clear their land and let us know. We will send the seedlings to them. We will also show them the proper way to plant the seedlings, provide technical advice and even give them pesticides,” he said.

Lee assured that Alam Widuri had enough seeds and seedlings to give out to all its registered members as well as to other individuals who are interested to participate in the project.

Alam Widuri gives 111 free seedlings for every hectare of land or 10 per cent of the participant’s total land to start planting.

For example, if a participant has three hectares of land, the company will give 333 free seedlings to start with.

Further expansion may only proceed the following year, also with free seedlings from the company.

“We will start small on a research basis first before expanding further. This effort is in line with the government’s directives to focus on the R&D first,” said Lee.

Individuals, organisations, and government agencies that are interested to participate in the scheme can contact Johnny Lee at 019-8282635 or the company’s marketing consultant, Jijar Singh, at 019 8571289.

Those outside Kuching may contact the appointed nursery operators: Kota Samarahan - Lim Lam Seng (013-8274674, 082-681272), Serian - Razak (016-8975570), Sarikei - Lau/Miss Lau (016-8605886), Miri - Fabian Yeo (019-8854298), Bintulu – Nelson (019-8155373), and Julau - Francis/Chambai (013-8003678).

Free seedlings are available until the end of this year. After that, farmers may have to buy them.

Source: The Borneo Post

There’s a shortage of fertilizers in the state recently. Will the government subsidize these farmers fertilizers and other neccessary tools as well?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Jatropha is not palm tree, which is largely planted in Malaysia for palm oil extraction. Jatropha is a poisonous Central American shrub. Its seeds are used to extract biodiesel fuel in Philippines, India, and China.

On Tuesday, crude oil broke the record surpassing $97 a barrel. Malaysia has been subsidizing the fuel costs. The increase of fuel price had been a big burden for Malaysia. In September, Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (Mardi) announced it is studying the possibilities to cultivate Jatropha at large-scale to produce bio-diesel. Jatropha is chosen because of its characteristic of pest resistance, long lifespan (40 years), can be grown on poor, arid soil, and also able to produce bio-diesel that can be used by vehicles. As a solution for alternative fuel, Malaysia government had fund this research for RM300mil (~USD100mil).

Last month, Sarawak Land Development Minister Datuk Dr James Masing announced that Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) was carrying out joint research on Jatropha with Mardi. Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Sclcra) had been asked by the state to test which species of the plant is suitable to grow in Sarawak. On the other hand, another state in the country, Sabah, also announced that Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) was testing the potential of Jatropha cultivation.

Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui announced yesterday that Government is giving out 300-acre site to Sabah to plant Jatropha Carcus.

Other uses of Jatropha Curcas are soap production and traditional medicine. The effect of large-scale planting of Jatropha Curcas to the soil and environment is unknown.

[pic]

Popularity: 3% [?]