Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Energy from Palm Trees

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Nov 8 2004 (IPS) - A group of Honduran investors built the first “clean energy” plant run on waste pulp from the African palm. Constructed in northern Honduras, it can generate 600 kilowatts per hour. ''It's a pilot project that we hope to expand to the rest of the country and throughout Central America,'' Carlos Menjívar, head of Palmas Centroamericanas (PALCASA), one of the project's promoters, told Tierramérica.

The energy plant, in the northern city of Guaymitas in Yoro department, was built with a five-million-dollar contribution from the Central American Economic Integration Bank, BCIE.

Its palm oil extraction capacity reaches 2,500 tons per month, and the plant is expected to supply up to 60 percent of Guaymitas energy demand.

PALCASA is the first Honduran company of its type involving small and medium farmers, and has more than 400 investors.