By ABC7News.com
November 24th, 2009
San Francisco Bay Area-based Eco-Fuel Global this week signed an agreement with the Government of Rwanda to produce bio-fuels from Jatropha Curcas. The deal, estimated to be worth in excess of $250 million, would replace up to 20 percent of the Rwandan fossil fuel requirement with low emission bio-fuels.
Jatropha Curcas is a poisonous shrub whose seeds contain oil that is used to produce biodiesel fuel that is usable in a standard diesel engine.
“This marks the beginning of one of the largest sustainable biofuel projects in the world,” Mark O’Brien, CEO of Eco-Fuel Global, said in a statement. “Rwanda is leading the world in a new generation of environmentally friendly and economically responsible energy production.”
Eco-Fuel Global said some of the benefits of the project include:
■ Increased fuel security and reduced price risk.
■ Direct employment estimated at 6,500 jobs.
■ Environmental benefits such as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, soil stability and watershed protection.
■ Expanding U.S. exports through the use of U.S. – based biofuel refinery equipment and technology.
■ Food security through production of fertilizer as a by-product of the biofuel and the potential to increase agricultural yields with intercropping.
The company plans to grow Jatropha Curcas on 10,000 hectares of land near Akagera National Park, which is projected to yield an estimated 20 million liters of bio-fuel annually.
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