Myanmar plans jatropha-based biodiesel exports

Myanmar plans jatropha-based biodiesel exports Myanmar plans to export jatropha-based biodiesel fuel, as it attempts to tap the growing market for biofuels, a senior Myanmar energy official said. “By this time next year we hope to have 7 million acres (2.8 million hectares) of jatropha plantations in full swing and a large amount of biodiesel for export in the future,” said Soe Myint, director general of Myanmar’s energy planning department. According to Lim Hong Hui, chief executive officer of Singapore’s Tian Biogreen Energy Ltd. (TBEL), 2 million hectares of jatropha crops can produce 1.2 million tons a year of jatropha crude, a similar product to crude palm oil. “Myanmar’s requirements for biodiesel are minimal, but the jatropha project should earn some foreign exchange income,” said Soe Myint. Myanmars seven local state departments will run the plantations, rather than the central government, with each state having its own processing plants. (August 27, 2007)