Enhancing mobility and poverty eradication through use of biodiesel from Jatropha

Kenya spends about 40% of it's foreign exchange earnings on imported petroleum products strengthening it's need to venture into cheaper and cleaner biofuel. The raise in commodity price since 2000 is mainly attributed to increase in crude oil prices. High prices in petroleum fuels threaten sustainable mobility and economic stability of many developing countries. Diesel demand in Kenya currently stands at 2.8 million litres annually. This diesel is mostly used for commercial;l transport and public service vehicle due to collapse of railway systems in Kenya. Bio fuels such as bio diesel can be produced from oily seeds in Kenya. It is produced from plants such as Jatropha (Jatropha Curcasl), caster, sunflower and croton micaucuptus. Bio diesel as vehicle oil has a potential better mobility of proving a better mobility solution by reducing the country's dependency on expensive fossils oil import. In Kenya production of oil from plant products is cheaper than imported diesel. However, Kenyan government has no policy on bio fuel usage in vehicles. Jatropha plantation quickly restores ecosystem and bi diversity when used for forestation or ref forestation, hence improving environment. Jatropha satillites all conditions set down under Kyoto convention as a positive carbon dioxide sinker. Among the social and environmental benefits from Jatropha plantation are jobs creation and poverty eradication in the rural areas. Due to biodiesel low toxicity in gas emission, engine combustion it is recommended for pubic transport in municipality towns(author)