Jathropa project site opened in Medellin

The initiative to make Cebu a green fuel producing province yesterday took a step forward as national and local stakeholders implemented the first 100-hectare jathropa curcas plantation.

Philippine National Oil Company - Alternative Fuel Corporation president and chief executive officer Peter Abaya and Cebu 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon led the inauguration of the project starting at the 2.5 hectare intensive nursery site in barangay Kawit, Medellin town, owned by the Jose Ancajas Agricultural Corporation.

Abaya said PNOC will finance everything from jathropa seeds, other planting materials, technical assistance as well as payment of labor for the first 100 hectare cultivation.

They will be ready for harvesting six months after planting.

PNOC-AFC Abaya said is bent on massive production of jathropa, locally known as “tuba-tuba” after a recent study showed that the plant has the highest capability as replacement of imported diesel among other identified feed stocks that will compete with food production such as the coconut, sugarcane and sweet sorghum.

The raw juice or extract of the seeds, Abaya said is already crude oil in itself and will turn into biodiesel after processing which is expected to be 30 to 40 percent cheaper than actual diesel.

“Even if diesel price in the world market escalates, PNOC has a plan to control its price not to go higher,” Abaya said.

A liter of biodiesel from jathropa is produced from three kilos of its seeds and each hectare is expected to produce a minimum of 8,000 kilos of seeds which is equivalent to 2,666 liters of biodiesel.

Abaya said another plus factor of jathropa is its being a good compliment to coal powered plants.  Once jathropa oil is mixed into coal powered plants, the pollutants are notably decreased.

Salimbangon said his office will assist and monitor the project's implementation which is piloted in his district.

He said they are aiming for 15,000 to 20,000 hectares in five years.  DENR pledged 6,000 hectares, the DA 5,000 and the DAR, 5,000 hectares.

He said this is a project that he finds most essential among the other proposals submitted to his office since this spells food security, environment and energy concern.

Initially, it is PNOC shouldering the expenses for the first 100 hectares and hopefully support from other sources such as the provincial government will also arrive.

Beyond the 100 hectares, Salimbangon said, his office will facilitate the granting of loan from Land Bank of the Philippines which will be paid not with money but in terms of jathropa seeds.

Some sugarcane farmers are now bent on giving up planting because of the high cost of fertilizer which is twice the cost of the sugar sold in the market.

“When they plant, we pay them, when they harvest, the proceeds are theirs,” Salimbangon said.

PNOC will buy the seeds they produce at a minimum price of P3.50 each kilo, or an estimate of P9,333 each hectare at eight tons of seeds produced.

Once the propagation reaches 5,000 hectares, PNOC-AFC assured an expelling plant will be put up already for the processing of seeds into diesel.

And once when the target of 15,000 to 20,000 hectares is reached, a processing plant will already be put up in Cebu to cater to jathropa produce of other countries. – Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP