His Excellency Ambassador Cézar Augusto de Souza Lima Amaral (left), Brazilian Ambassador to Jamaica, confers with Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce at the Biofuel Production Seminar held Wednesday, August 9, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. The seminar continued on Thursday, August 9, with appearances by the Prime Minister and the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Castor oil, the bane of many schoolchildren of yesteryear, has been identified as a viable biofuel to be produced locally and used as a cost-effective way to cut Jamaica's growing energy bill - an opportunity that has not escaped the private sector.

The castor bean has a high oil content and is regarded as a natural agri-product for the production of bio-diesel. When measured against food crops, such as, corn and sugarcane, currently used for agri energy, this plant provides a safe opportunity for bio-diesel development," explained Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce at a bio fuel conference on Wednesday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

Karl James, the chairman of Petrojam Ethanol Limited, who also spoke at the bio fuel seminar noted that, "There are plans for a major commercial plant to be constructed and many persons are now preparing their lands for the castor bean."

James did not give specifics but added, "We believe that large areas of rural Jamaica could be quickly transformed into attractive economic zones where independent small land owners are engaged in the production of an agricultural good for which there is a ready market at a price that should provide satisfactory return for their efforts."
The castor bean is considered complementary to ethanol for many reasons.

"This is certainly not a food product and it is well known in Jamaican agriculture. It is not prone to praedial larceny and can be produced on varied scales from large scale farms to cottage industries, involving thousands of small farmers in the rural areas," James explained. "I would, therefore, propose that we plan to produce castor oil as the agent for mixing with diesel fuel.

Jamaica currently uses 168 million gallons of diesel fuel and, therefore, will need 5 million gallons of castor oil for the bio diesel project," said James.

"The reduction of just two per cent of diesel imports will help in the country's balance of payments and increase agricultural output. People will see a reduction in noxious emission as we reduce diesel consumption thus contributing to the improvement of our environment."

Minister Paulwell informed the audience that the country had to change course with regards to the consumption of fuel. "As a nation which is 90 per cent dependent on petroleum energy, Jamaica has been very vulnerable to the alarming cost fluctuations of petroleum energy, particularly in this decade. And, even as we measure the cost implications to the national budget, and the need to conserve, development and lifestyle changes in our young nation are increasing demand, averaging at approximately five per cent per year."

Paulwell added: "In 2006, imported petroleum product to meet national demand was US$1.736 million. With growth in demand and price increases in 2007, this is expected to climb to over US$2.0 billion. Demand by sector is highest for transportation - 41 per cent of imports meet air, sea and land transportation needs. Energy demand for bauxite and alumina production follows with 35 per cent, while power generation requires 19 per cent of the products imported.''
James noted that, "We must then set a timetable within which to produce the oil and introduce the mix to the transport industry."

Paulwell explained that the government could not commit to a timetable for implementation of a bio fuel policy as, "We have a few things to get out of the way this month, but I will suggest a time frame to Cabinet as the time is now," declared Paulwell. He went further adding that, "Should I retain my current post then I will bring tremendous exuberance to implementing bio diesel technology as part of our energy policy."

Jamaica's efforts in implementing a viable bio fuel industry are receiving much technical support and investment from Brazil.

The Minister explained: "In a partnership with Coimex of Brazil, for the production and export of fuelgrade ethanol, manufactured by the Petrojam Ethanol Dehydration Plant, refurbished jointly by Petrojam and Coimex, fuel grade ethanol is being manufactured from Brazilian feedstock." He continued, "As I see it, this collaboration between Jamaica and Brazil must continue, particularly in areas of improving our technical competence, local production of feedstock and more importantly, private sector investment in infrastructure development to ensure a continuous supply of local feedstock. These are critical to our going forward with ethanol."

Brazil's experience with bio fuels has been extremely positive. The country mandates that 25 of its fuel consumption derive from sugar cane produced ethanol.
Brazil also uses pure ethanol in flex-fuel cars, which has reduced by 40 per cent their consumption and importation of fossil fuels. The biofuel industry in Brazil has also created over 4.5 million direct and indirect jobs and has helped to curtail a rural to urban migration shift.

Paulwell told the audience that, "It is essential to reduce our dependency on non-renewable fossil energy and at the same time, we must increase our use of energy from renewable sources."

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