SANGAM

Sajiban, best alternative for fossil fuel: Experts
Sangam Prasain
Kathmandu, April 11 Incessant global demand, exhaustion due to over- exploitation and ever rising prices of fossil fuel have triggered an urgent search for a substitute fuels that are ecologically and economically viable. The energy experts from the national and international arenas have come up with the idea ‘Green Energy the Next Revolution’, by planting Jatropha (Sajiban or Kadam) and carrying out industrial activities related to the extraction of bio-diesel from jatropha seeds. Recently, these experts have launched ‘Mass Jatropha Development Programme’, with the theme, ‘A hope to alternative clean energy solution in Nepal’. According to them, over 500 thousands hectares of unused land in Nepal could be used for Jatropha cultivation that can produce bio-diesel and reduce dependency on imported petroleum products. There were over 50 plants in Nepal that bears seeds and could produce oils. But Jatropha has a capacity of high oil extraction as compared to other seeds, they said. Similarly, the cultivation of jatropha as a source of alternative energy has several benefits in an economy based mainly on agriculture. "It can solve the unemployment crisis considerably and also ensures the optimal usage of arable land," they said. Dr. Khem Raj Bhattarai, an energy expert, claimed that Nepal was the only country that was lagging behind to tap the value of jatropha. He said that this cultivation could make Nepal independent in energy and help reduce trade deficit. He pointed out that the Jatropha oil was superior to others oils as it had a short gestation period, easy handling, high oil extraction and superior quality of bio-diesel. He, however, said that the lack of awareness, land use policy and plantation, research and study, reluctance of investors and availability of low population of these species in nature was the challenges that Nepal had to negotiate while promoting this product. Prof. Dr. Jagannath Shrestha said that the fuel produced from jatropha produces less carbon emission compared to other fossil fuels. According to him, if one-liter diesel was burnt, it produces 3.5-kg carbon dioxide but jatropha had half of it. Shyam Mohan Shrestha, chairman of the Future Energy International (FEI), said that FEI had an experienced partner company hailing from the Republic of Korea. He said that FEI and the Korean partner company would venture for the establishment of pan-oplie natural resources that would contribute to the economy of the country and also help reduce environment degradation. He said that FEI had planned to invest, attract investors and technical support through its worldwide connections in order to make this industry a success story in the country. He pointed out that the production of Jatropha bio-fuel solves the unemployment crisis considerably and also ensures the optimal usage of arable land. Minister for Science and Technology Ganesh Sah said that the bio-fuel was the only alternative to Nepal at the time when it was passing through problems like energy crisis, high pollution and the global warming. He said the government had given special priority to the alternative energy sector. He committed that the government would encourage such green energy production and would make all its efforts towards using it as an alternative sources. Jatropha is highly resistant to drought, thrives in arid areas, and requires as little as thirty liters of water a month during the non-rainy season. Animals do not eat this plant and thus is safe from them. The plant produces oil-bearing seeds within six months of planting and can last over thirty years without replacement when managed properly. Its seeds contain thirty per cent or more oil, which can be easily expelled and extracted. Besides reducing the consumption of fossil diesel and resultant savings on their import, the use of bio-diesel confers various advantages that include significant reduction of the various pollutants in the burnt exhaust fumes produced by traditional fuels.