Jatropha biodiesel project in Afghanistan put on hold

In India, Lablands Biodiesel has been notified that the project to start a jatropha to biodiesel industry has been postponed due to security concerns arising from U.S. troops being withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Lablands was to be awarded a subcontract to train either Afghani nationals or representatives of the US firm Lablands in India in planting jatropha as well as equipment for producing biodiesel.

Lablands reports that they have been told “…Given that the project has to be eventually implemented there, security is a priority.”  Sudheer A Shetty, Lablands Chairman, stated, “…We are confident of the project coming through. You will have to contact US officials for details as a non-disclosure agreement forbids us from disclosing the same.”