Jatropha as Alternative Fuel: Indonesia

I had never heard of Jatropha until I did a Google search and found out it was just plain old castor oil. However it is being touted as an alternative source of fuel according to a Business News report.

A coalition of scientists, media people and car dealers are promoting the use of Jatropha curcas also known as castor oil as an alternative fuel to overcome the country's energy crisis.

The head of the Bandung Institute of Technology's Biotechnology Research Center said everybody knows we will run out of fossil fuels in the next 50 or 100 years which is a short period of life for the earth. Therefore we should start using alternative fuels now. He said among other alternative energy available in the country such as coal and nuclear power, jatropha was the best option as it offered not only renewable sources but also ensured the rehabilitation of over 59 million hectares of critical land across the country.

Jatropha could be planted in critical or abandoned land and it needs only sustainable sunlight and water to keep it alive. Such a condition surely makes it the best environmentally friendly fuel alternative. Experts believe increasing the consumption of biofuel would reduce greenhouse gas emissions mainly produced by fossil fuels which have worsened global warming increasing temperatures and raising sea levels.

Jatropha plantation projects would also create jobs for some 11 million unemployed people in the country and raise the livelihoods of the more than 60 million poor people living on less than US$2 per day and unlike oil, gas or coal businesses, jatropha plantations could be owned by anyone and not only by the government or companies

To help promote the use of castor oil the ITB in collaboration with National Geographic Indonesia and a local authorized Mitsubishi dealer PT Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors plans to hold the 2006 Jatropha expedition.

The expedition will test-drive a Mitsubishi Strada car fueled with 100 percent castor oil. The sport utility vehicle will travel from Atambua in East Nusa Tenggara to Jakarta from July 12 to July 20. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to greet the car upon its arrival in the capital.

National Geographic Indonesia chief editor Tantyo Bangun said the expedition was aimed at making the people realize they should turn to alternative fuels as soon as possible.