Statement on Biodiesel Production in Kenya

Bio-fuel in Kenya is just about to acquire a new meaning when the government releases the regulations for blending with the fossil fuels together with the Policy . This means that vehicle owners and manufacturers who use combustion generators may use either diesel or petrol that has already been mixed with bio-fuel at one of Kenya’s three fuel depots.

For a country that has never had commercial use of bio-fuel and its farmers have never grown bio-fuel crops for commercial use, there are important facts about the bio-fuel crops that require to be known.

Africa has various bio-fuel crops that are used to produce bio-fuel. They include; Jatropha Curcas, Croton, Castor and Candlenut, best used to produce biodiesel that can be used alone or as a blend with fossil fuels ( there are other sources as well)
Others are sugarcane, sugar beet and cassava used for producing ethanol and can be used as a blend with fossil petroleum to power engines.

In some countries in Africa however, there has been a major misunderstanding on the Jatropha crop and as farmers prepare to be the major suppliers of bio-fuel, it is important that some facts about these crops are known.

In the case of Jatropha, it is not indigenous to Africa but it is a crop that just like maize or what has been naturalized. In parts of Kenya say Meru, Kajiado and Ngurumani Jatropha now gross naturally.

Jatropha is not an invasive species as alleged in some quarters. In Kenya and the East African region for instance, no evidence of its being invasive has been recorded for over a century, according to Africa Centre for Technology Studies. Its cultivation in this region has so far showed that the crop can be controlled mechanically; by pruning or cutting it down.

Jatropha is a tree. It contributes to the Afforestation of a country like Kenya whose forest cover has dropped from recommended 10 per cent to 1.7 per cent. The production of seeds for biofuel is an added advantage.

In the climate change carbon trading market, some western companies have invested in Jatropha plantations in Africa to offset their own carbon dioxide emissions.

In Kenya, Jatropha is mainly grown in Kitui, Thika, Namanga, Kajiado, Malindi, Nyanza, Nakuru, Marakwet, Naivasha, in the coastal regions and in Meru. By 2008, it was estimated that close to 3,860 acres of Kenyan land has been covered by the plant. The area has since increased tremendously.

Other qualities of Jatropha include:

• It grows on rocky land and lasts for about 50 years;
• It is drought resistant; and relatively easy to grow and manage ( we have practically proved this)
  
• It seed cake can be used as fertilizer or processed into livestock feed after treatment
  
• It does not compete with food production directly; it is not edible and grows in areas unsuitable for food production. It intercrops well with food crops ( practically proven)
  
• Its oil burns 80% cleaner than fossil fuels
• It can be used as a hedge therefore keeping animals away from destructing other crops( animals do not browse the plant ( practically proven ).
  
• There are many other advantages of the plant.

Other Factors

• For a practical and economically viable biofuels plantation, we recommend an intercropping system of Jatropha, Candlenut and Castor as it enables an all round seed production. Croton can be grown on its own and be an economically viable venture for production of biodiesel.
• The success of Production of Biodiesel in Africa is depended on a critical mass of the feedstck. We therefore encourage Governments in Africa to formulate ideal policies that shall deliberately advocate for mass production of feedstock by establishing nuclear estates and encouraging farmers around such areas using the out-grower system. Such systems must not destroy the existence of Biodiversity in which case a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment must be carried out. A strategic Environmental Impact Assessment may also be carried out that will lead to zoning of areas suitable for various plants. The income arising from the production of biofuels must be extended mostly to the farmers and all in the entire value chain.