British company eyeing India for biodiesel production

25 March 2006

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D1 Oils, a major British biodiesel producer, says India is going to be a key location for the company in the production and consumption of the fuel derived from the jatropha plant.

As part of the plantations network, it has entered into a joint venture with Indian tea major Williamson Magor in northeast India. The joint venture will see around 25,000 hectares of jatropha planted in the region during 2006.

Speaking about the deal, Elliot Mannis, CEO of D1 Oils, said: "India is going to be a key location for the production and consumption of biodiesel from jatropha and comprises the largest component of our current planting programme."

He said the deal with the Williamson Magor was "in addition to the contract farming programme currently being undertaken through D1's joint venture in southeast India, D1 Mohan Bio Oils".

He added: "It takes us for the first time into the northeast, where there are significant areas of marginal and unused land available for planting jatropha.

"Williamson Magor's experience of large-scale planting and its excellent relationships with farmers make it a strong partner."

Mannis said a study by the oil giant had found that "as a non-edible and drought-resistant crop, jatropha is potentially an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable contributor to the challenges of energy security in India".

Based in Middlesbrough, the company has reported that it successfully made its first fuel from jatropha oil in its D1 20 refinery in Lancashire.

The company has been working for the past five years to create a global network of jatropha plantations and refineries to make biodiesel - a blend of conventional diesel and vegetable oil that reduces carbon emissions by up to 80 percent.

Reports say while its technology has made fuel using rapeseed, soy and palm oil, the 20 tonnes of biodiesel made at its testing site in Lancashire is the first batch to successfully use oil from the jatropha curcas tree, D1's proposed main feedstock.

Chairman Karl Watkin told The Journal, Newcastle: "This is a huge step for the company. We have taken a tree, which we identified as a feedstock five years ago, and used it to grow and convert into biodiesel.

"Everyone said we had no chance, but we have done it. It's a great result - the team have done a fantastic job."

Watkin said independent tests on the biodiesel - the first to be made in Britain with jatropha - confirmed it had met the European EN14214 standard for fuel. He added: "The people testing it said it was the best biodiesel sample they have ever tested in the UK."