Desert Plant May Be the Answer to Cheaper Biofuel

South Korea and Pakistan may be working together on  jatropha plantations and extraction plants in a deal arranged by Zarai Taraqiati Bank.

Pakistan recently planted the jatropha plant in desert regions throughout the country in order to later harvest the fields for biodiesel, a method of biodiesel production that India is already currently utilising. The Pakistani government said it would hope that this would help offset a percentage of the $3 billion dollars already spent on importing diesel.

Neighboring India currently produces almost two thirds of the world’s jatropha plants.  The jatropha seeds can be used to produce up to 40% oil, which is about 60-70 U.S. gallons per acre of plants.  Researches predict that jatropha could yield ten times more oil than corn, but that it is has not yet been tested to full potential.

Jatropha is an economically way to produce biodiesel because it does not require additional processing once harvested.  Additionally it can be used for biomass to power industry and byproducts can be used as fertilizer.

 Jatropha is potentially a smart investment has it requires little water to survive, growing in arid, harsh deserts around the world.  However research did find the jatropha yields the most oil when it is adequately hydrated with enough water, which could be more water than it required by corn, another alternative to diesel.