Namibia bans jatropha in north-east, pending report

In Namibia, the national Government has banned jatropha biofuel projects in the north east area of the country in both the Caprivia and Kavango regions, until such time as a study can be completed, addressing a number of issues.

The Government’s initial plan called for as much as 63,000 hectares being planted by 2013, but investors have been proposing plantations as large as 400,000 hectares.  A government ministry was quoted as stating  the study would “determine the suitability of jatropha plant and other fuel plants” in the two regions.