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Jatropha Africa to invest 20 million
dollars
Accra, March 24, Ghanadot/GNA - Jatropha Africa Limited, a
subsidiary of Lion Bridge Ventures in United Kingdom, is to
invest 20 million dollars in Jatropha plantations to produce
bio-diesel.
Mr Ohene Akoto, a Director of the company, said this at a
roundtable with officials of the United Nation Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO), Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Deputy Ministers of Food
and Agriculture and Energy in Accra at the weekend.
He said UNIDO and JICA officials were in the country to hold
discussions with officials of the two Ministries to
sensitize them on the importance of bio-diesel development,
considering the recent rise in the price of crude oil.
Mr Akoto said Jatropha plantations would be established in
the Brong-Ahafo and Northern Regions and that hectares of
land had been acquired for the project to take off.
"Jatropha, the wonder plant, produces seeds with an oil
content of 26 per cent while the by-product can be pressed
into cakes for organic fertilizer and also contains an
effective ingredient for insecticide production," he said.
Ms Anna Nyamekye, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA),
said the Government was prepared to create an enabling
environment to ensure the establishment of the Company.
She expressed the hope that the investment the Company
intended to make would create wealth and jobs for the youth.
Ms Nyamekye assured the investors that the Ministry of Food
and Agriculture would impress upon extension officers and
other experts to offer technical advice to ensure the
success of the project.
Mr Kwame Ampofo Twum, Deputy Minister of Energy, said the
establishment of the plantation would help to solve the
energy problem in the country.
He said that the Government had put in place effective
mechanisms to help investors who are ready to go into
Jatropha production.
He appealed to farmers to go into the production of the
plant and urged the Company to explore more market avenues
for the produce.
GNA
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