Japan to embark on jatropha project in Kenya

11/19/2007 10:33:14 AM GMT

KENYA: Japan is about to embark on Kenya's first large scale commercial biodiesel project, which aims to grow jatropha on up to 100,000 hectares (247,105 acres) of land, media reports said quoting a spokesperson from Japan's largest biodiesel producer, Biwako Bio-Laboratory Inc.

Chief Executive Officer Mitsuo Hayashi said the company is confident of starting on a project that will see the planting of 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of jatropha curcas plantations to feed biodiesel plants within the next six months to a year, based on the results of a recent feasibility study.

The 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of jatropha plantation, which will employ some 10,000 workers, will support the production of some 200,000 tonnes (220,000 tons) of biodiesel per year. Biwako Bio-Laboratory aims to expand the plantation to 100,000 hectares (247,105 acres) within 10 years, Hayashi said.