ISLAMABAD: To overcome the shortage of petroleum products and reduce its import bill, the government of Pakistan plans to present a pilot project �Jatropha Plantation and Production of Biodiesel� with an estimated cost of $1.6m, official sources said here yesterday.
The Korean government will assist the government in initiating the pilot project through provision of $1.4m while the remaining amount will be provided by the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited borrowing.
The pilot project will comprise cultivation of Jatropha on at least 200 hectares of land by farmers and setting up of a bio-diesel production unit. In this way, the farmers will earn from Jatropha farming, farm workers will have employment and small rural enterprises will sell or purchase the seeds.
Small-scale industries will grow for oil production and diesel fuel production would further provide business opportunities. Bio-products like press cake will be traded by villages, energy employment and earning will go together and marginal lands / cultivable wastelands will be utilised.
�The summary of the project has been sent to the Planning Commission for concept clearance so that work on it is processed further with donor agencies,� an official said.
The Zarai bank will play a vital role in promotion of alternate energy source through increase lending for cultivation of crops like Jatropha, Caster, Salicornia, Sukhchayn and algae as raw material for production of biodiesel.
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