Bionas Agropolitan Fueling the Economic with Technology Corridor Development

Venue : Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center, China.

Title : The Proven Concept & Implementation Model in Jatropha Cultivation and Biofuel Production via Nano-Emulsion and Polarization Technology

13-15 Nov 2012 – Bionas will speak at 4th International Conference on Biofuel Standards

Venue : National Institute of Standards & technology Gaithersburg, MD, USA

Title : Biofuel Production via Nano-Emulsion & Polarization Technology

Sarawak, Malaysia 24-26 April 2012 – Pakistan State Oil Company (PSO) 3-days visit to Bionas Jatropha Plantation, Press Mill and additives & biofuel processing, blending and storage facility in Bintulu and Kuching, Sarawak

Kuala Lumpur 23rd April 2012 – Signing Ceremony between BIONAS and Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO) was held at BIONAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The National oil company of Pakistan was represented by its DGM-NBD Mr Syed Nawaid Anjum Zaidi and Mr Irshad Ejaz Khan from Alternatif Energy Department, PSO.

Parallel to the ever-expending industrial needs, the demand for oil fuel constantly increases which results in the inevitable increase in the global oil prices. Hence, numerous efforts to find alternative oil fuel derived from plants have been carried out since that led to the discovery of the Jatropha curcas plants which are naturally endowed with multitudinous uses and unique properties.

PLANTING METHOD

The seedling of Jatropha Curcas must be planted within 7 feet away from each other to ensure enough space during harvesting.

TRIMMING METHOD

Trimming is done to increase the branches and increase seeds.This process is also to ensure that the maximum height of the trees is only at 2 meters.

SEEDS HARVESTING METHOD AND THE DRYING OF THE SEEDS TO BE SOLD TO BIONAS

Seeds which are blackish yellow is harvested once in 3 days. The seeds dry up if harvesting is done late. This causes the weight of the seeds to decrease. Hence, will results in loss for the planter.

After the harvesting, the fruits is ripped open and 3 to 4 smaller seeds can be found inside. The wet seeds must not be put inside sack to avoid fungal infestation. The dry process must not be done in an area or location exposed to direct sun light. After drying, seeds are collected inside in the sack to be sold to BIONAS. The shell is placed under the tree to be used as fertilizer.

Pokok jarak pagar, tumbuhan yang biasanya digunakan dalam perubatan tradisional bagi menjarakkan kekerapan kelahiran bayi, juga ditanam sebagai hiasan pagar rumah.

“Walaupun penemuan kegunaannya sudah lama tetapi ia masih belum diperluaskan di negara kita, sedangkan bagi negara maju, mereka telah menggunakan biji jarak pagar yang telah diproses untuk dicampurkan dengan petrol sebanyak lima peratus,” katanya.

Farini berkata, berdasarkan penggunaannya itu yang boleh mengurangkan pengeluaran asap dan menurunkan kandungan karbon monoksida untuk kenderaan, maka LTN kini memperkenalkan tanaman itu di Rhu Tapai, Terengganu dan di Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.

Beliau berkata, pokok jarak pagar ditanam di sekeliling kawasan tanaman tembakau yang membentuk seperti pagar dan ianya menjadi tanaman integrasi kepada penanam-penanam tembakau.

Projek perintis tanaman itu dimulakan pada Oktober 2006. Sebanyak 3,000 pokok itu ditanam di Kampung Air serta 1,000 pokok lagi di Pusat Latihan Tembakau di daerah Pasir Puteh selain 3,000 pokok di Terengganu.

“Banyak kelebihan pokok jarak pagar ini. Ianya mampu hidup selama 25 tahun, penjagaannya mudah, boleh ditanam di kawasan kurang subur seperti kawasan lombong dan batu kapur, dan berbuah sepanjang tahun tanpa ada musim dan bersesuaian dengan cuaca panas dan kawasan kurang air.

Ketinggian pokok itu hanya tiga meter. Ianya memerlukan tujuh bulan untuk pokok menjadi matang serta menghasilkan buah, yang bijinya diproses sebagai bahan api.

Farini berkata, bahawa bilangan pokok itu akan ditambah menjadi 20,000 tahun depan dan 100,000 menjelang 2010.

Beliau berkata, satu hektar tanah boleh ditanam 2,500 pokok manakala setiap sekilogram biji jarak pagar boleh menghasilkan 330 mililiter minyak sebagai bahan api.

Selain bahan bakar, biji jarak pagar juga boleh digunakan sebagai minyak pelincir untuk kenderaan.

“Jika kita benar-benar komersialkan tanaman pokok ini, ianya mungkin menjadi satu alternatif bahan api dan petrol untuk kenderaan, dan membantu kerajaan mengurangkan tanggungan subsidi minyak,” kata Farini.