KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), has developed a B5 biodiesel blend.

 PCJ is the agency of Government dedicated to pursuing the development of Jamaica’s energy resources.

Jamaica could save hundreds of millions in energy costs per year, while reducing the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and creating a boost for the agricultural sector through the introduction of the blend to be used in the transport sector.

The oil, derived from castor seed, is processed to produce a high-quality fuel for use in diesel-engine vehicles.

PCJ’s Group General Manager, Winston Watson, told JIS News that the unique blend has the potential to replace 97,000 barrels of imported oil, significantly cutting the country’s annual energy bill.

The PCJ anticipates that replacement of the diesel currently being used with its B5 blend could save the country about $540 million per year in imports alone.

 “We are fairly optimistic that…our B5 blend of biofuel will be an affordable option for driving energy efficiency in the transportation sector,” Watson said.

The biodiesel formula is the latest innovation by the Corporation in its efforts to develop the local alternative energy sector.

Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning diesel replacement fuel made from natural, renewable, agricultural resources. Like petroleum, diesel can operate in combustion-ignition engines, including cars, trucks, heavy equipment and boats. It can also be used in oil-based home heating systems.

Watson pointed out that due to the natural components of the B5 blend, it would have a nominal impact on the environment.

 “This is very good for the clean energy sector. Because the castor oil comes from plants, essentially what will happen is that we will be growing more trees and that will reduce greenhouse gases as well in terms of the trees absorbing CO2 (carbon dioxide),” he told JIS News.

“But what is more important is that when you use the castor oil, it reduces the sulphur. Because it has less sulphur, when you mix it with regular diesel, it reduces the amount of sulphur, which reduces the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” he explained further.

The PCJ Manager anticipates that the project will also create a boost within the local agricultural sector as farmers will be called upon to mass-cultivate the castor plant for commercial production of the fuel.

“The intention is to have satellite farms. If you have an acre of land, you can grow an acre of castor seeds. This will then be brought to a processing plant to produce the oil,” Watson pointed out.

The PCJ has been conducting small-scale vehicular trials of the B5 formula since January this year. Some 7,000kilometres of road miles have been logged so far.

Further research and refinement of the blend is being carried out by PCJ in collaboration with the University of Technology (UTech). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to be signed shortly between the two entities to concretise the arrangement.

Results from the research will be used to create a document to implement a biodiesel energy policy for the country.

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Andrew Wheatley, has hailed the collaboration between the entities.

“It’s really an excellent partnership. Castor oil is known for its energy generating potential and so it is that level of collaboration that we want to encourage among our local scientists and for them to continue to innovate,” he said.