Nothing concrete on jatropha bio-fuel yet

LEST people fall into the hyped bright promises of the jatropha plant (tuba-tuba) as bio-diesel, Philippine National Oil Company Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC) says, nothing is concrete yet. The warning came amidst apprehensions that people may go into frenzy in jatropha production and ultimately lose.

In Bohol , it was learned that both the Provincial Government through its poverty reduction management office and the Philippine Coconut Authority has been into brisk arrangements with local organizations and residents for jatropha production in Bohol 's idle farmlands. “It is a misconception that jatropha is an immediately available alternative fuel,” said PNOC president Chief Executive Eduardo V. Mañalac during a senate finance committee hearing on the Department of Energy. “But it may take years to determine the varieties of jatropha, which will produce the best yields in Philippine soil and climate,” he continued. Because of this, National Economic and Development Authority Director Romulo Neri has already cautioned people from right away cultivating jatropha pending results of a study on which variety produces the highest yields here. “Everybody might start getting into it and lose instead of making money, and we do not want that to happen, Neri was quoted by Businessworld, May 19.

This, despite having significant learning from countries specifically India who has had some 10-20 years edge in its successes in their bio-fuel program, said Reinero Medrano of PNOC-EDC as cited by the Study Committee on Alternative Fuels. Even India still has some problems with production and seed segregation, Medrano shared. Medrano said a study to determine the agronomic requirements of the jatropha species in Philippine conditions takes 12-18 months is now ongoing. Here, PNOC right now is experimenting with growing at least three varieties of jatropha. In this regard therefore, the government through the DOE has prioritized the use of coco-methyl-ester for reasons that it is of mature technology and has abundant supply of raw materials.

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