The Department of Energy (DOE) announced that they are abandoning the research of Jatropha as a feed in stock for the production of Biodiesel. PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC), the Government unit that was tasked to research on the viability of the hardy plant commonly used for fencing off a property in the countrysides has been directed to concentrate instead on developing cassava and sweet sorghum (for bioethanol).
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Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp. shared that Jatropha Curcas is not as hardy a plant as its supporters tout it to be. They said that after experimenting in their Jatropha Curcas farm at Laguna they found out that the plant actually needs a lot of water and it won’t grow in just any type of land. This in turn affects the commercial viability of the plant as a feedstock for biodiesel. With this revelation they also announced that they are dropping any plans to enter the biofuel industry.
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PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corp. (PAFC) recently signed an agreement with the Ilog Diversified Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Katilingban Sang Katawhan Sa Katayoyon Nga Kauswagan Sa Kabankalan Inc.(5K) to establish a 1,000-hectare jatropha curcas plantation in Negros Occidental. Jatropha Curcas is a very hardy plant that grows easily on infertile ground and its seeds could be used to make biodiesel.
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Leyte, the front door of almost all typhoons entering the Philippines is targeted for jatropha propagation by the PNOC Alternative Fuels Corp (PNOC-AFC). About 100 hectares worth of land is what they want to fill with jatropha curcas which will eventually be used for biodiesel production.
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Continental Airlines, fourth largest airline in the United States, successfully conducted a test flight on a Boeing 737-800 with one engine powered by a Jatropha Curcas mix.

The no-passenger flight lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes and originated from the Bush Intercontinental Airport.
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An Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 powered by 50% jatropha curcas based jet fuel had successfully completed a flight lasting for about two hours. One engine of the 747 was fueled by a 50% blend of Jatropha Curcas based jet fuel while the remainder was your average A1 jet fuel.
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