RP not yet ready to commercialize jatropha biodiesel
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
By MELODY M. AGUIBA
The Philippines is not yet ready to commercialize jatropha biodiesel as further studies on the development of an economicallyfeasible jatropha varieties has yet to be conducted.
The country like India, which is supposed to be in a more advanced stage of jatropha research, has not yet developed a completely feasible jatropha variety that can produce biofuel on commercial scale.
"I’m not against jatropha, it has a potential (as a biodiesel feedstock). But there’s a need to enhance knowledge base on a jatropha variety. Tests have yet to be done, and that may take two to three years," said Dr. William D. Dar, director general of India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
He noted, though, that the Philippine National Oil Co. Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC), is expected to come up after some time with a result on a study on jatropha for biodiesel.
Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan, Forestry and Environment Research of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) said that PNOC-AFC is allocating for 2007 a total of P7.5 million for three jatropha project components.
In his letter to Aggangan, Dar advised PCARRD to give government a more accurate view of the current potential of jatropha.
"I’m wondering why the science community is not giving an advisory in the present knowledge and gaps in jatropha commercial venture. There is so much push in this. (But) I have yet to see a technical report (on a viable jatropha variety) based on the research work done here in the country," he said.
Amid the hype, it is best to commercialize a feedstock based on solid research and development (R&D) of a locally adaptable variety so that maximum productivity can be achieved.
Aggangan admitted that more variety adaptability tests have to be carried out.
"We agree that it is not yet time to commercialize jatropha, but it was President GMA and the DoE (Department of Energy) who pushed for it. We recognize this, that’s why PCARRD and the network has packaged an Integrated R&D program for production, processing and utilization," he said.
Local authorities want the commercialization of jatropha for biodiesel since it is not used as food in the country compared to biofuel feedstocks sugarcane, corn, and cassava.
However, even in India, jatropha biodiesel production is still in a laboratory stage, Dar said. And nowhere in the world is there a definitely known jatropha production on commercial scale, although jatropha advocate UK firm D1 claims a South African jatropha operation.
A study conducted by the Indian Planning Commission (IPC) indicated that selection of improved germplasm material for quality and quantity of oil from jatropha has to be done to improve viability.
posted by philpower @ 5:18 AM,
