5,000 hectares of jatropha, candle nut and castor planted in Uganda

In Uganda, the African Power Initiative has planted 5,000 hectares of jatropha, candle nut (Kabakanjagala), and castor for biodiesel production. The company has imported machinery to produce 60,000 liters per day, requiring 150 tons of seeds daily, as well as a smaller machine to produce 4,000 liters per day requiring just 10 tons of seeds, but they haven’t yet been able to reach that capacity target.

The company has already invested $2 million into the project and has signed an offtake agreement with Tamoil to blend the fuel locally. They have also contracted Green Industries Uganda Limited to produce soap and fertilizers from their waste streams.