Biodiesel from jatrofa plants

NOT only solar power, it is high time to try and popularise other non conventional forms of energy to decrease dependence on conventional forms of energy like petroleum, diesel and gas. The uses of such types of energy are relatively expensive, wasteful and creates external dependency. But the alternative forms of energy such as solar power, biogas, wind energy and wave energy are very environment friendly and should be particularly suitable for Bangladesh.
Specially, the conceived project to produce biodiesel from the fruits of the jatrofa plants needs to be pushed hard. It was reported sometime ago that government was planning to plant jatrofa plants in some reserved areas to raise a crop for meeting the total annual requirements of diesel in the country. But no more has been heard about this project since then whereas India and some other countries are known to be meeting substantial quantities of their fuel needs from biodiesel or diesel produced from jatrofa plants. Jatrofa plants can be grown hugely and effortlessly in Bangladesh on fallow lands, by the side of flood embankments, highways and other places.
Government should adopt appropriate policies with no loss of time to popularise the uses of these alternative forms of energy extensively . Even in a developed country like Britain, non-conventional sources of energy are substantially meeting the national needs of energy.
Quayuum Chowdhury
Eskaton
Dhaka