Tanzania biodiesel project first to use croton nuts as feedstock

In Tanzania, Africa Biofuel and Emission Reduction said it would construct a biodiesel plant in the northwestern Kagera province using nuts from the fruit of the Croton tree. Croton seeds have up to 27 percent oil by weight, and grows “prodigiously” in Tanzania according to company founders, where it is used extensively as a shade tree and valued for its beauty.

Diesel in Tanzania costs $11 per gallon, and the company said that it will be able to produce fuel for $6 per gallons, to make fuel affordable for Tanzanian families who currently rely on firewood for heat and cooking. The company said it aimed to produce 10 percent of Tanzania’s fuel needs by 2018.

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