Jatropha for CO₂ neutral transportation (Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program)

A pilot project to reduce GHG emissions in the transportation sector, foster local economic develoment and to combat desertification. The project will convert MFC's new pick up to run on Jatropha oil and also develop a chain of production from plantations out in the rural areas, through pressing, sedimentation and filtration processes, through to use of the oil in the vehicle in Bamako. The project will also have a large emphasis on promotion of the technology, making the most of the media (TV, radio, newspapers etc.).

After conversion, the vehicle will be able to run either on 100% pure Jatropha oil or on diesel. Use of Jatropha as a fuel is interesting as the oil can be produced locally and the Jatropha plant is abundant in Mali. The project will create a new source of revenue for rural populations from the sale of Jatropha seed, as well as adding value through pressing and purification (all of which contributes to poverty reduction), but also it will contribute to Mali's energy independence, in the face of fossil fuel imports and their ever increasing cost.

The project will also have another important impact, and that is the reduction in emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs), particularly CO₂, because the use of Jatropha oil as a fuel is CO₂ neutral - there is no net emission. Reductions are estimated at 7.1 tonnes of CO₂ per year, or 107 tonnes over a 15 year period.

There will be a strong component for practical demonstration using the most adapted technology for Jatropha pressing, sedimentation, filtration, and use in stationary diesel engines to run a Jatropha press. There will also be technical workshops and a national conference.

Thus the project will combat climate change, preserve biodiversity, combat desertification, reduce poverty, and reduce rural exodus by stimulating productivity in rural areas. The project fits well to the MDGs (Millenium Development Goals) and the Malian government's Strategic Framework for Poverty Reduction (CSLP).

This is what the converted car could look like with promotional stickers saying "This vehicle runs on Jatropha oil with zero net CO₂ emissions"