Jatropha curcas: A viable alternative source of clean energy to meet Sudan's growing energy demand

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) is a plant native to Central America and is a source of oil and other by-products with commercial potential and economic value. Recent studies have shown that the oil from Jatropha seeds can be used for the production of biodiesel that meets the EN and ASTM biodiesel specification standards. Biofuel produced from Jatropha curcas can be used in a variety of ways to meet Sudan's energy demand, particularly in the rural areas. Such usages range from fuel derived from Jatropha seeds or pelleted seedcake, small-scale equipment suited to rural cooperatives for expelling oil, affordable engines and gensets that run on pure vegetable oil. Use of all of these can be important in helping to stimulate rural and regional economies by creating jobs and keeping money within the region, regardless of whether the Jatropha is grown on an industrial scale or as small-scale plantings. The purpose of this paper therefore, is to detail the processes and the expected outcome for biofuel production at a commercial scale in Sudan from Jatropha curcas oil feedstock. The paper covers issues of policy development, sustainability and economics that need to be addressed by Sudan authorities while taking this path toward sustainable biofuel production. The major source of information for the paper was the development of the Roadmap for Sudan Biofuels Production, with the biodiesel component likely to be sourced principally from Jatropha oil.