Biodiesel from commercialisation of Jatropha in Pakistan

“The News” dated 12 October, 2008, a daily newspaper published tender for supply of Jatropha seed from Punjab Forest Department for supply of Jetropha Curcas seeds. Some argue it is a great news for commercialization of Jetropha in Pakistan. Other say opposite, because they consider it considering an exotic specie. It is certainly a good source of biofuel but we must be careful in selecting the land for its plantation. Some people say we experienced mistakes in introducing Eucalyptus in Pakistan and started its plantation on highly fertile soil.

We must be careful in introducing Jatropha in areas where it is best suited and where it may not compete with the agricultural crops. We must restrict its plantation to problem lands not fit for agriculture. Private sector is not aware about the problems we will face if it is planted on agricultural lands as they are after production of cheap fuel.

The finitude of fossil fuels, concerns for energy security and the need to respond to climate change have led to growing worldwide interests in biofuels. Biofuels are viewed by many policy makers as a key to reducing reliance on foreign oil, lowering emissions of greenhouse gases and meeting rural development goals. However, political and public support for biofuels has recently been undermined due to environmental and food security concerns, and by reports questioning the rationale that biofuels substantially reduce carbon emissions. There is a need to discuss the promise of biofuels as a renewable energy source; critically evaluate the environmental and societal costs of biofuel use; and highlight on-going developments in biofuel feedstock selection and production technologies. Also there is a need to highlight net positive greenhouse gases emissions, threats to forests and biodiversity, food price increases, and competition for water resources as the key negative impacts of biofuel use. Can any one show that some of these environmental and societal costs may be ameliorated or reversed with the development and use of next generation biofuel feedstocks (e.g., waste biomass) and production technologies (e.g., pyrolysis).

My view is that certain types of biofuels do represent potential sources of alternative energy, but their use needs to be tempered with a comprehensive assessment of their environmental impacts. Together with increased energy conservation, efficiencies and technologies such as solar-power and wind turbines, biofuels should be included in a diverse portfolio of renewable energy sources to reduce our dependence on the planet’s finite supply of fossil fuels and to insure a sustainable future.