Merhavv Group to invest $700 million in Indonesian jatropha cultivation

Israeli investor Merhavv Group will invest $700 million in jatropha cultivation in the East Nusatenggara province of Indonesia. The investment will support more than 220,000 acres of jatropha grown in the East Sumba district.

The move comes as palm oil price increases have put palm-oil biodiesel projects on hold in the region. Jatropha yields are as high as 1,000 gallons per acre, but the tree has a five-year growing period before it maximizes yield.

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