Gov�t eyes commercial production of bio-fuels

Government is looking at diversifying sources of fuel PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Government is looking at diversifying sources of fuel PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Botswana has the capacity to produce enough Jatropha for commercial production of bio-diesel with a potential to produce 450 litres of the fuel per hectare, according to a joint research conducted by the governments of Botswana and Japan.

Speaking recently during a renewable energy dialogue between Botswana and Italy, the Ministry of Minerals Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security’s advisor, Freddie Motlhatlhedi said the findings of the research would be used to scale up and commercialise the production of bio-fuels in the country through the cultivation of small to medium scale commercial Jatropha plantations.

“The findings of the research would be used to commercialise the production of bio-fuels in the country as well as breeding and evaluation of high yield and stress tolerant Jatropha varieties,” he said.

Editor's Comment
A step in the right direction

It has only been a month since the newly elected government, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), took power, and there are already a lot of changes. Across different ministries, ministers are hard at work. Following heavy rainfall and storms that hit Francistown recently, the Minister of State Presidency, Moeti Mohwasa, made a commitment that government will assist those affected by the heavy rains. Mohwasa, when addressing the media in...

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