by Patience Rashai

Government is considering production of biodiesel through adoption of castor plant production as research has proven that the country could leverage on castor bean stalks to derive biodiesel, replacing petroleum based diesel fuel.

Given the recent shortage of fuel in the country, such a move would result in decrease of fuel imports and improved fuel service to the country.

“Considerations are underway for the production of biodiesel, research is currently underway, and responsible stakeholders are being consulted,” revealed an official from the Ministry of Energy and Power Development.

Life Brand Agricultural Services chief operating officer, Isdory Kembo, who has been spearheading growing of castor beans in the country said Zimbabwe needed to emulate other countries who had adopted biodiesel production.

“The country needs to follow the global movement towards generation of environmentally friendly yet renewable fuel to help meet the increased energy demands.”

“Castor oil biodiesel and catene in the stem, the blends could lower the cloud point value and increase the viscosity of the diesel. The depletion of the petroleum reserves, high oil prices and the limiting of greenhouse gas emissions make it wise to make use of biodiesel,” he added.

Biodiesel is evolving to be one of the most employed biofuels for partial replacement of petroleum based diesel fuel. In recent years, biodiesel production from castor oil has been synthesized by homogenous alkaline transesterification.

In countries such as India and Jamaica, the countries have reported significant savings, low exhaustion emissions, among other advantages after setting up biodiesel plants.