Malaysia Eyes Jatropha As Biofuel Source
February 1, 2008| |
Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) has drawn a scheme to cultivate a biofuel crop Jatropha curcas on a commercial basis. Sabah is a Malaysian state located in the Borneo island. SLDB’s immediate plans are to cultivate trees in 10 hectares of land together with Malaysia-India partners Borneo Alam Ria Biomatrix (Sabah) Sdn Bhd to ensure sufficient seedlings as well as to efficiently transfer the technology. Jatropha curcas is native to Central America and the Caribbean and its seeds yield a non-edible oil, utilized to make biodiesel fuel. It is believed that commercial planting of Jatropha could help eradicate poverty in Sabah as people in the interior can work on six-acre plots of land provided by SLDB and earn at least US450 a month.
The project is a joint-venture between the SLDB and three foreign companies from Japan, Korea and the United States and is part of the Sabah Development Corporation. The venture will involve investments of RM320 million (US97mil) by Nihon Biotech of Japan, TKM Korea Biofuels Resources and local-based American company Kelana Stabil Sdn Bhd.
For more news in Malaysia email Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center at maha@bic.org.my.
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