/ 5 October 2005

Zimbabwe to start growing oil-rich tree for fuel

Zimbabwe will soon start growing the oil-rich jatropha tree to manufacture its own blend of diesel as the country battles to overcome acute fuel shortages, state radio reported on Wednesday.

The jatropha plant — a small deciduous tree that can grow in arid areas — has seeds rich in vegetable oil that can be burned as a substitute for diesel.

”Zimbabwe will soon start growing the oil-rich jatropha tree on a commercial scale to help alleviate fuel shortages in the country through the manufacture of bio-diesel,” the radio said.

It quoted an official from the Biosafety Board of Zimbabwe as saying the Science and Technology Development Ministry ”has plans under way for massive production of jatropha during the forthcoming farming season”.

Zimbabwe is in the grips of its worst fuel crisis ever, with most filling stations having gone for weeks or months without deliveries of petrol or diesel.

Only a handful of filling stations are selling fuel to long queues of motorists who have managed to find foreign currency to pay for fuel.

Zimbabwe has been battling shortages of foreign currency for the past five years. As a result, the country has struggled to pay for vital imports of fuel, power and medicines.

International reports say a tonne of jatropha seed oil can yield up to 1 100 litres of bio-diesel.

In August local pig farmers were reported to be applying for funding from the central bank for a project to generate electricity from pig manure. – Sapa-DPA