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Ray of hope for Tanzania’s oil nightmare
2006-06-28 09:08:52
By Adam Ihucha
Tanzania may soon be able to reduce imports of fuel, thanks to Diligent Tanzania Ltd that is currently working overtime to establish an ambitious project for processing Jatropha seeds into bio-diesel in the heart of Arusha in northern Tanzania, our staff writer, Adam Ihucha writes:
Very soon, a pilot factory would be set up for the production of bio-diesel from Jatropha seeds in the heart of Arusha city in northern Tanzania.
Diligent Tanzania Ltd (DTL) is indeed behind this ambitious project, which analysts say, will be very useful because it will enable Tanzania to reduce its share of fuel imports abroad.
At the moment, DTL experts are working extra time to create conducive environment for setting up a pilot plant for processing Jatropha seeds into bio-diesel in less than two years period.
High ranking official with DTL, Tjerk Scheltema, said a number of experts have been deployed to conduct intensive and extensive campaigns in a bid to encourage smallholder farmers who are producing the seeds of the crop currently grown as hedges in the northern zone regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara, to extend their acreages.
’’What we are doing right now is to create awareness to farmers in northern regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara on the potentialities of the jatropha crop on the one hand and looking for strategic NGOs to give support to the project on the other hand,’’ Scheltema said.
The biggest challenge before DTL at the moment, Scheltema said, was to ensure it increases production of the multi-use crop to 10,000 hectares within a two - years period or more less so as to obtain about 100 tonnes of jatropha seeds ready for processing them into the fuel.
If the dream comes true, the DTL plant would be capable of producing 1.5 million litres of bio-diesel a year that would be exported to the European market duty free.
’’The product will also be available locally if we can sell it duty-free as in Europe,’’ Scheltema said, stressing that the efficiency of the environment friendly fuel was equivalent to conventional diesel.
Scheltema said Diligent Tanzania was currently entering into contracts with farmers whereby the firm would be providing the farmers with extension services on condition that the farmer must sell the jatropha curcas nuts to the firm at the existing price of 80/- per kilogramme.
Economists say that with only about 50,000/- capital, one can plant 1,000 jatropha curcas trees, among other crops, per acre and rest assured of harvesting between two and six kilogrammes nuts per tree in each of the two seasons the crop is harvested a year.
However, the majority of the farmers, according to Scheltema, were skeptical at the beginning because they thought diligent Tanzania extension officers were just another group of researchers, who passed through the rural areas with a myriad of promises which would not be kept.
Economists argue that if this ambitious project takes off, Tanzania’s economy will benefit from a reduced oil imports bill.
Currently, Tanzania suffers from a negative balance of payments.
Available records indicate that Tanzania is importing over 4, 295,300 barrels of oil per year and consumes 22, 000 barrels per day.
Apart from its economic importance, the bio-diesel project is in line with the Kyoto Protocol aimed at bringing into force a clean development mechanism (CDM) wherein developed nations would be able to trade part of their commitment to reducing greenhouse gases by buying green energy credit from such projects in developing countries.
Every tonne of carbon dioxide reduction through use of clean technology like wind, hydropower and biodegradable waste, for instance, can fetch between five and six dollars in India.
While the government of India has endorsed 46 out of 150 projects submitted for CDM credit to help them earn extra dollars, the Diligent Energy Systems Director is only asking the government here to waive excise duty on the jatropha curcas bio-diesel if it is to be sold locally.
Popularly known as mmbono in Kiswahili, the multi-use jatropha curcas is a perennial crop that grows into bushes of up to six meter high in areas with semi-arid land where the crop has been grown for centuries and used for traditional medicine, lubricant or fuel.
Locally produced jatropha curcas soap sold in some supermarkets here is said to have healing properties for those who suffer from acne.
The plant is widely used as a living fence to protect fields from browsing animals in the zone and it is easy to establish, grows relatively quickly and lives and produces its seed for up to 50 years.
Pressed oilcakes made out of jatropha curcas, can also be used for fertiliser, briquettes or biogas while the tree itself serves as windbreak and prevents the fertile surface soil from being eroded by water in rainy seasons.
Jatropha curcas seeds contain viscous non-edible oil, which can be used for manufacturing candles, the production of high raw material for cosmetic products and a substitute for diesel fuel chipped in Ruud van Eck, the Director of the Dutch based Diligent Energy Systems, which is collaborating with Diligent Tanzania in the production of the environment friendly fuel.
Diligent Tanzania is a subsidiary of the Arusha based Multi-flower Tanzania consortium comprising Arusha Cuttings Ltd, Greenstars Cuttings Ltd, and Vasso Agroventures Ltd.
With the exception of the newly established firm, all other subsidiaries are engaged in the production of chrysanthemum cuttings and garden plants in greenhouses for export to Holland.
The Multi-flower consortium has, since its inception about a decade ago, successfully contracted about 300 smallholder outgrowers in Arusha and Manyara regions for the production of flower seeds for export to US, Japan and Europe, among others.
Multi-flower also has a department, which imports high quality hybrid and pollinated vegetable seeds from Europe and Asia for local consumption.
’’The department, in addition, has an agronomical section that conducts trials and demonstrations in the fields of farmers to test the quality of the seeds and to train farmers in improvement of their cultivation methods,’’ Scheltema said.
Bio-diesel is a renewable fuel made by a chemical reaction of alcohol and vegetable or animal oils, fats, or greases.
Through a refinery process called transesterification, the reaction removes the glycerin-a by-product that is not good for your engine which can be made into soap.
Bio-diesel can be used in any diesel engine in pure form or blended with petroleum diesel at any level. Even a blend of 20% bio- and 80% petroleum diesel will significantly reduce carcinogenic emissions and gases that may contribute to global warming.
Bio-diesel offers fleet operators a safer, cleaner alternative to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is made from renewable fats and oils, such as vegetable oils, through a simple refining process.
Bio-diesel operates in conventional combustion-ignition engines, from light to heavy-duty, just like petroleum diesel. No engine modifications are required, and biodiesel maintains the payload capacity and range of diesel.
Since engine modifications are not required, there’s no need to change vehicles, spare parts inventories, refueling stations or especially skilled mechanics.
Vehicle hoses need to be checked after the first 6 months of operation on bio-diesel. Replacement of non-compatible hoses may be necessary, but is not usually difficult or expensive. Blends of 20% or less tend to have little effect on even non-compatible hoses.
Biodiesel cuts down on targeted emissions. Bio-diesel used in a 20 per cent blend with petroleum diesel and a catalytic converter will cut air pollution.
Particulate matter is reduced 31 per cent, carbon monoxide by 21 per cent and total hydrocarbons by 47 per cent. Bio-diesel used in a blend will also reduce sulfur emissions and aromatics. Using 100 per cent bio-diesel further reduces emissions and carcinogenic compounds.
The goal of the bio-diesel industry is not to replace petroleum diesel, but to extend its usefulness. Bio-diesel is one of several alternative fuels that have a place in the development of a balanced energy policy. The role of bio-diesel is to contribute to the longevity and cleanliness of diesel engines.
The most likely use of bio-diesel will be in certain niche markets that require a cleaner-burning, bio-degradable fuel.
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