10th Nov 2005 12:30
D1 Oils Plc10 November 2005 D1 Oils to Plant Jatropha with African Governments New planting in Zambia and Swaziland to exceed 20,000 hectares 10 November 2005 - London D1 Oils plc (D1), the UK-based global producer of biodiesel from renewableenergy crops, continues to strengthen its jatropha planting strategy in Africaby broadening the range of its partners to include national governments. Insouthern Africa, D1's regional subsidiary has been chosen by the governments ofZambia and Swaziland to undertake large scale planting for jatropha biodieselproduction. Planting will encourage rural development and increase fuelsecurity. Zambia D1 is to undertake the planting of 15,000 hectares of jatropha curcas, itsprimary biodiesel feedstock. D1 will carry out planting in cooperation with theZambian government and the Kachumu Community Development Network, a governmentfunded initiative to encourage rural development in Northern Zambia. The ZambianGovernment has also appointed D1 as its partner in developing a policy onbiodiesel. A task force has been formed incorporating stakeholders from relevantgovernment ministries and representatives from D1. D1 will undertake jatropha planting on a contract farming basis, guaranteeing topurchase harvested jatropha seeds for processing into crude jatropha oil. D1intends to establish refinery operations in due course to produce jatrophabiodiesel for use within Zambia and will investigate the potential ofelectricity generation from jatropha biomass. Welcoming the partnership with D1, His Honor, L. Mwape, the Vice President ofthe Republic of Zambia, said, "D1's partnership with the government supportedKachumu Community Development Network Trust to develop a renewable energyindustry will be one of the defining moments in our Nation's future. It willcreate much needed employment and economic upliftment opportunities, whilstreducing atmospheric pollution and our reliance on imported fuels. It will alsoassist in reducing harmful global emissions whereby developed nations canpurchase Zambia's emission reduction credits." Swaziland D1 is to undertake jatropha planting with the support of the SwazilandInvestment Promotion Authority and the Swaziland Water and AgriculturalDevelopment Enterprise. These bodies have facilitated the provision of around6,000 hectares for the planting of jatropha by rural communities. Threenurseries have already been established in Swaziland to meet anticipated demandfor the millions of seedlings required for planting. Philip Wood, CEO of D1, commented, "We have been working with the governments ina number of African countries to conduct exploratory studies on how plantingjatropha as an energy crop on unused or marginal land can stimulate ruraleconomies by providing jobs, diversifying farm incomes and increasing fuelsecurity. We are now beginning to roll-out projects to produce feedstock,biomass, biodiesel and by-products for the betterment of the African continent.The new planting projects in Zambia and Swaziland will contribute towards ourglobal target of 267,000 hectares by the end of 2006". Contact: D1 Oils plc:Graham Prince, Head of Corporate CommunicationsTel: +44 (0) 20 7321 3892Mobile: +44 (0) 7973 323840 Brunswick Group:Helen Barnes, AssociateTel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 D1 Oils Africa:Penny HealyParfait ManagementTel: +27 (0) 11 783 5313 Notes to Editors: D1 is a UK-based global producer of biodiesel from renewable energy crops. It isthe owner of technical, marketing, logistical and other intellectual propertyrelated to the establishment, development and harvesting of jatrophaplantations, the extraction of oil from the harvested seed and the production ofbiodiesel and other valuable by-products from jatropha and other vegetable oils. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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