Zubiri: Jatropha Seeds as Biofuels Source

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

THE PHILIPPINES - With no end in sight to the skyrocketing of fuel prices, the national government is looking into alternative fuel sources to avert a looming economic catastrophe.
This was stressed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri who discussed the benefits of using jatropha seeds as a source of bio-fuel during the 49th Araw ng Lanao de Norte celebration.

"Just three kilos of jatropha seeds will already produce a liter of bio-diesel and it will also raise the income of our marginalized farmers," revealed the senator from Bukidnon.

The Republic Act 9367 or Biofuels Act of 2006 was unanimously passed on both houses of Congress and it outlined the use of biofuels and the establishment of the biofuel program.

Identified as possible sources of biodiesel are jatropha seeds and copra (the dried white flesh of the coconut). Sources of ethanol, which is used in gasoline powered vehicles, include cassava and sugarcane which are currently in surplus production.

In the biofuel program, abandoned agricultural lands and non-food producing areas will be used as plantation for jatropha trees. This will help solve the denudation of forested areas caused by illegal logging and uncontrolled cutting of trees for use as firewood.

"This will also be a good reforestation program since trees planted during our reforestation effort will only be harvested after one year for use as firewood," stressed Senator Zubiri.

A conversion kit is now readily available thru Glenn Yu of Seaoil Corp. that converts gasoline-consuming vehicles into vehicles that can run on both pure gasoline or pure ethanol.