Non-fossil fuel: Will Nigeria reap from potentials of Jatropha?

Nigeria stands a chance to grow alternative non-fossil fuel from the Jatropha plant, an evergreen tree considered environmentally friendly. Although Jatropha has been well established in the energy circle since the beginning of the year 2000 as an oil crop for biodiesel production in the fight against climate change, Nigeria is yet to achieve significant milestone in its development.
The increasing negative impact on the environment due to the exploitation of fossil fuels is promoting a global search for alternative energy that can be obtained from renewable energy sources. Biofuel as a renewable energy resource is drawing international attention as the alternative fuel of choice because of its eco-friendliness and the immense socio economic and climate co-benefits.
However, the prospect of the development of the plant as alternative fuel source received a huge boost recently when the Nigerian government hosted its first international environment dialogue where experts, lawmakers and other stakeholders amplified the benefits of the Jatropha as alternative to fossil fuel for a sustainable green economy and the mitigation of climate change.
The oil extracted from the Jatropha plant is basically converted into biodiesel for use in diesel engines. When detoxified, the cake formed from the process is used as feeds for fish or animals while the biomass feedstock can be used to energise electricity plants or even as fertilizer.
The plant is known by different names in Nigeria especially among the three main languages. For example, in Yoruba it is called lapalapa; in Hausa, it is called binidazugu; in Igbo, it is called ugbolu.In Fulfulde (Fulani), Jatropha is called kolakolaje.
Jatropha, according to experts, aside from being environment friendly, holds an important place in turning the economy of the nation around by reducing poverty, emissions and providing employment for the teeming youths as well as enriching farmers in the country.
“It has been found that it has values that could be exploited in the restoration of our marginal and degraded land and ecosystem and also in addressing rural poverty by creating job opportunities as well as providing an alternative to fossil fuel,” said Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, who spoke at the first environment dialogue.
The programme of exploiting the role of Jatropha which will be included in the afforestation programme of the federal government as part of the diversification of the economy, will be powered by the ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Water Resources.
The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, told journalists that they were working in partnership to deal with the issue of diversification using Jatropha.
Ogbeh said,  “If we can generate some diesel which is environment friendly, even if it is just 100 litres a year, we are saving some money and we are not poisoning the environment because it is completely biodegrading.”
“We should take a lead from India where 15 per cent of the fuel consumed by trains is actually from Jatropha and it is environment crop which traps a lot of carbon,” he said.
Nigeria started growing Jatropha about 12 years ago but is yet to start processing it, he said.
Ministry of Environment’s take
Minister of Environment Amina Mohammed speaking on the ministry’s plan, said it was meant to reduce emissions and to push back the desert.
“We don’t just want to stop it, we want to reclaim it and by adding value, we are choosing a number of trees, shrubs and grass that we can do that with,” she said.
Mohammed who maintained that climate change would be a big beneficiary of the Jatropha  programme said: “We also want to see some economic value that gives jobs and then gets into a value chain that  can produce returns for those who do not have a job.”
On employment opportunity, the federal government is considering climax mart agriculture which involves technology and science that would need the services of graduates with different skills and business models.
To succeed, the federal government said it is developing an integrated policy framework which incorporates its change agenda through the engagement of the private sector and the agriculture ministry.
Malaysia energy firm pledges $2.5bn investment
A Malaysian energy company, Bionas, said it will invest $2.5 billion in bio-fuel factory in Nigeria from the Jatropha plants and also for waste to energy production.
The Group CEO, Zurina Amnan, who noted that fuel produced from Jatropha plant would be sold at the same price with fossil fuel, said they were investing in Nigeria because it had been selected to be the clean energy hub of Africa.
She explained that using Jathropha, in a long distance travel, they can guarantee 30 per cent fuel conservation and 50 per cent in a short distance.
She said in two months’ time, they will buy Jathropha plants from farmers  at good price.
Business opportunity of Jatropha
yThe Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr Maikanti Kacalla Baru, in his remarks said based on commercial considerations, Jatropha ranked second to oil-palm as the bio oil of choice for biodiesel production in the NNPC biofuels programme.
Jatropha is considered an appropriate hedge plant for reclaiming forests, managing desertification, creating soil balance and logical solution to the food versus fuel, the NNPC boss said, adding that “we intend to cultivate Jatropha plants around the peripheries of the plantation and sidelines of the internal road network.”
This will safeguard against livestock encroachment, while the oil that will be extracted from the Jatropha seeds would be converted to biodiesel to fuel the diesel engines of the plantation machineries, he said.
Lawmakers’ commitment
Senate President Bukola Saraki said it was imperative for the lawmakers to support and encourage Jatropha plantations to meet the requirements of “our economic diversification efforts” adding that “we must do so in an environmentally friendly way so as not to negatively affect food security.”
Represented by Senator Oluremi Tinubu he said: “The National Assembly is determined to play its role in making laws that can help us transition into clean and greener economy, and we are committed to using legislative instruments to support the Nigerian bio-fuel policy so that we can reduce the nation’s dependence on imported fuel, reduce environmental pollution and manage our natural resources efficiently.”