A OIL castor firm has developed a formula to produce B100 biodiesel from the castor bean seed.
The move is aimed at augmenting the country’s fuel supplies which are currently at an all-time low adversely affecting industry and motorists alike.
“After having witnessed and experience the fuel situation in our country, currently characterised by high prices, we came up with a solution and it was biodiesel production,” Takudzwa Chifamba, Oil Castor head of chemistry, told journalists and farmers Tuesday afternoon.
“As Oil Castor chemistry department, we have developed a formula to produce B100 biodiesel from the castor bean seed. The Castor bean at Oil Castor is a hybrid seed with an oil content of between 65% – 80%. This implies that from 1 000 kilograms of castor bean, we can easily produce 800 litres of castor oil. From that 800 litres of castor oil, the formula we came up with produces approximately 680 litres of biodiesel.”
He continued: “This simply means we are in great need for our farmers to come on board so that we can scale-up and produce as much biodiesel as we can in order to help eliminate the fuel crises we are facing as a nation.”
“For instance, with just one 1.7kg bag of castor seed (5 000 seeds), will produce approximately 42 tonnes of castor bean in its lifetime and that converts to 28 000 litres of biodiesel.”
Oil Castor encouraged farmers to come aboard, saying the hybrid castor seed can grow in areas with both low and high rainfall.
“Surely, this will help our country in a long way in alleviating fuel shortages and price hikes as well as bring in foreign currency for our beloved country, Zimbabwe,” he added.
Meanwhile, Oil Castor took the opportunity to launch an all-purpose healing organic oil extracted from castor bean.
Chifamba said castor oil is clinically proven to visibly reduce wrinkles and discoloration.
It also prevents premature signs of aging from the sun, at the same time promoting a healthier skin.
“Oil Castor is calling for farmers to join their castor bean farming project,” he said.
“Currently, there are over 150 farmers in Zimbabwe and over 200 across Africa producing castor bean for Oil Castor. Farmers will be paid for their correctly produced castor seeds on seven-year contracts.”
