Interesting Article from MIT Review. UOP, a division of Honeywell, has successfully designed and mass produced biofuel based jet fuel made out of Jatropha Curcas seeds. Their fuel can be used in regular jet engines without need for modifications.

According to UOP their Jatropa Jet fuel packs more energy than regular jet fuel which could lead to better mileage for commercial jets. It also has a lower freezing point than conventional jet fuel allowing it to perform well in the colder temperatures of higher altitude. Could this make it capable for use in sub space applications?
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PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC) President and CEO, Peter Anthony Abaya, announced the acquisition of equipment to aid in the research, development and adoption of Jatropha Curcas as an alternative fuel source in the Philippines. He also added that due to the high price of oil in the world market there is an urgent need to fast track biofuel projects in the country.

The equipment purchase was co funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). A list of the purchase equipment:
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The PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corp (PNOC-AFC) was offered 600 hectares of idle land by the Municipal Province of Rizal for potential development of a Jatropha Curcas Plantation. PNOC-AFC is now looking into the area to check whether it is indeed viable for planting.

The Local Government of Rizal did this in hopes of creating jobs for their constituents. PNOC-AFC also reiterated that they will not encourage farmers to convert land used for food production to switch to biofuel feedstock production.
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PNOC Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC) recently signed an agreement for a JV with the Provincial Government of Quezon for a 100,000 hectare Jatropha plantation. Funding will be provided by the Land Bank of the Philippines to the tune of P4.3 Billion ($1=P42). The plan is to develop a jatropha nursery, processing plants and refineries. The land allocated was said to be marginal, therefore making it unsuitable for planting food crops.
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PNOC president Peter Anthony Abaya said that there are entities interested in purchasing the potential carbon credits that can be generated by the PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporations Jatropha Plantations. Three of the entities he mentioned were EcoSecurites, Mitsubishi Securities of Japan and the World Bank.
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The First Mindanao Jatropha Forum in the Philippines will be held today, August 28, 2007, at Cagayan de Oro City. This forum has been initiated by the PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation. The Forum will tackle the government’s thrust of developing jatropha into an alternative source of fuel for diesel and as a poverty alleviation measure for farmers.

The Forum will be highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for joint Jatropha ventures by PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation and Land Bank of the Philippines. The Philippine President herself is expected to grace this event. The Theme for the forum will be “Jatropha Feedstock: Prospects and Challenges.”
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