BP and DI Oils signed an agreement in June to create a joint venture thet aims for them to become the world’s biggest producer of jatropha oil by 2011.
There is much excitement about this plant that is said to do well in arid areas and on poor soil. It grows best 25 degrees south or north of the equator and is already being planted in Africa, India and China.
The BP/DI company plans to have nearly three million acres growing by 2011 and will be processing two million tons per year which should provide 18% of Europe’s biodiesel.
While I tend to be a little sceptical about claims that a plant can produce a good crop on poor land with very low rainfall, jatrapha looks as though it will have an important part to play in collecting solar energy for fuel without reducing food supplies and might even help to reduce poverty in Africa and elsewhere.