Myanmar, one of the most despotic, centrally planned-societies left on Earth, joins the bio-fuels parade !!

8-27-2007 05:19 Myanmar plans jatropha-based biodiesel exports

SINGAPORE, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Myanmar plans to export jatropha-based biodiesel as it attempts to tap the growing market for biofuels, a senior Myanmar energy official told a seminar on Monday.

“By this time next year we hope to have 7 million acres (2.8 million hectares) of jatropha plantations in full swing and a large amount of biodiesel for export in the future,” said U Soe Myint, director general of Myanmar’s energy planning department.

According to Lim Hong Hui, chief executive officer of Singapore’s Tian Biogreen Energy Ltd (TBEL), 2 million hectares of jatropha crops can produce 1.2 million tonnes a year of jatropha crude, a similar product to crude palm oil.

“Myanmar’s requirements for biodiesel are minimal, but the jatropha project should earn some foreign exchange income,” said U Soe Myint.

Myanmar has faced a rare series of protests sparked by fuel price hikes last week. The price rises were most likely a result of Myanmar’s generals struggling to pay for domestic diesel subsidies despite rising revenue from sales of natural gas.

The plantations will be run by Myanmar’s seven local state departments, rather than the central government, with each state having its own processing plants, said U Soe Myint. “Malaysian and Indonesian companies are already in talks with people in the various states to set up processing plants, while the central government will be responsible for quality control,” he added.

Jatropha is a drought-resistant perennial bush or small tree that analysts consider one of the most promising sources of biofuel, as it avoids strain on food crops like corn and sugar.

((Reporting by Damon Evans, editing by Michael Urquhart; email: damon.evans@reuters.com))