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BioFuel Projects International and Plant.a.Bio plan 10,800 acre jatropha pilot development in Brazil

April 18, 2008

In the Netherlands, BioFuel Projects International and the Brazilian company Plant.a.Bio signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 10,800 acre jatropha plantation in Brazil. The pilot plantation will demonstrate the economic viability of jatropha on marginal land in Brazil as well as provide a training and test facility for expanding to commercial-scale.

Jatropha continues to be the subject of intense development. Recent projects include:

• China Agro-Technology announced that it has secured $300 million in financing for biodiesel acquisitions and operations. The company is focused on building capacity to process jatropha oil to supply the growing demand lower-cost biodiesel.

•  China Agro-Technology recently signed an agreement with Boulevard Holdings to acquire 494,200 acres in Indonesia for jatropha cultivation. The company valued the jatropha revenue stream at $300 million based on the expected demand and pricing for jatropha oil, ranging from a projected $650 to $750 per ton. The company expects to commence harvesting in 2010.

• The Sabah Land Development Board (Malaysia) demonstrated jatropha biodiesel in a Toyota Land Cruiser trial conducted at the Sabah Development Corridor Expo. SLDB’s general manager said that Nihon Biotech, Kelana Stabil and TKM Resources have indicated that they would invest up to RM 300 million in jatropha cultivation and would purchase the fuel for export to the US, Japan and South Korea.

• In China’s largest state oil company, Sinopec, said it will invest $5 billion in jatropha and palm plantations in Indonesia.

• In the United Arab Emirates, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi announced an $15 billion investment project in renewables, managed by Masdar. Masdar’s major initiative in bio-fuels is focused on jatropha and other arid climate crops.

• D1 Oil is planting 50,000 hectares of jatropha, in a joint venture with BP, in Africa, India and Southeast Asia. D1’s CEO said that the company can produce jatropha biodiesel profitably as long as the price of oil exceeds $65 per barrel, and will have developed more than 32 Mgy in jatropha capacity by 2012.

  • Jatropha: Safe or Invasive? A Biofuels Digest Interview with Biofuels Projects International
    • At the Greenhouse 2007 conference, a report was released citing that among plants under investigation as biofuel sources, two -- jatropha and spartina -- were banned in Australia and featured on a glo...
  • Ineos Enterprises to acquire jatropha oil from Viridas projects in Brazil
    • In England, Ineos Enterprises signed an agreement with Viridas to acquire jatropha oil from Viridas projects in Brazil. Viridas is currently acquiring 250,000 hectares of idle land in Brazil for the p...
  • Malaysia to launch a jatropha biodiesel pilot project in Sabah
    • In Malaysia, the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry will launch a jatropha pilot project in Sabah. The location will be in Kota Marudu. The Ministry pledged to expand cultivation, especial...
  • The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil says jatropha will be unviable for at least five years
    • The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil said that five years of research are required before jatropha is economically viable as a biodiesel feedstock. The group noted that jatropha oil production yield...
  • Malaysia proposes $103 billion Sarawak Corridor renewables development plan
    • In Malaysia, the national government has proposed a $103 billion "Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy" (SCORE) development plan, which includes heavy investment in jatropha and palm-based biodiesel p...
  • Carbon Capital to launch $60 million in biogas, biomass projects in Sarawak; $600 million more for jatropha, palm cultivation in JV with Japan Carbon Mercantile
    • In Malaysia, Carbon Capital will launch $60 million in biogas and biomass projects in Sarawak, including a 10 megawatt biomass power plant using palm fruit waste, and four biogas projects. The company...

    Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under International, Producer News 

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