A community-based organisation in the eastern region of Ghana has announced that it has started the production of biodiesel from palm kernel oil. The Dumpong Pineapple Growers Cooperatives said it was doing this in collaboration with its US partners, Dumpong Biofuels.
According to the producers, the product has a better performance quality compared to petroleum diesel. They have started using the bio-diesel to power a generator and to fuel their official vehicles, officials report.
Jerry Robock, Head of the US Dumpong Biofuels team, said that a simple processor to convert locally produced palm kernel oil into bio-diesel was assembled and a process known as "transesterification", which removes glycerine molecule from the oil, was used to extract the fuel. He said the processor, comprising two 55-gallon steel drums, were welded together with an electric heating element screwed through one opening.
A piping and a small electric pump were added to pump palm kernel oil and a solution of methanol with potassium hydroxide into the processor. The circulating mixture finally pumped the bio-diesel into a washing tank.
Robock explained that the project, which cost about US$1,000 and was currently on a pilot basis, could be adopted in other communities to help cut down cost of fuel. He added that Dumpong Biofuel had come up with a strategy to take advantage of locally available oilseed crops to include atrophy and sunflower seed as well, to be converted into environmentally renewable and sustainable fuel to be used locally to replace imported diesel fuel.
Africa Interactive
