The first Cuban plant for the production of biodiesel from Jatropha curcas, an inedible shrub, entered into operation this month in the southeastern province of Guantánamo, with an expected output of 100 tons of fuel annually. The results so far have been “very good, given the quality of our oil and the biodiesel obtained,” José Sotolongo, director of the Guantánamo Center of Applied Technology for Sustainable Development, told Tierramérica.

The jatropha seeds are rich in oil, but toxic for human consumption, which means their use for fuel production does not entail competition with food production. The cultivation of jatropha also contributes to the improvement and conservation of soils.

The new biodiesel plant is a step forward “in the diversification of new forms of clean energy,” stressed Sotolongo.

It was established as part of the “Biomass as a renewable source of energy for rural areas” project, supported by the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development.