Scenes during the recent inauguration of Jatropha oil press machine or oil mill expeller in the town of Datu Anggal Midtimbang in Maguindanao province. (Mindanao Examiner Photos – Mark Navales)
MAGUINDANAO – For the first time in the history of Maguindanao and probably the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, a Jatropha oil press machine or oil mill expeller has officially opened in the town of Datu Anggal Midtimbang.
The recent inauguration of the mill was spearheaded by Malaysian investors and executives of Bionas Group of Companies together with local government officials and farmers, who will benefit mostly from this business.
ARMM Assemblyman Sidiks Amiril, who is also the chairman of Bionas Mindanao-Philippines, said they invested in the project for the people of Maguindanao. He said the mill has an initial capital of P500,000.
The machine, Amiril said, can press at least 300 kilograms of Jatropha (curcas) plant. The oil from Jatropha is mainly converted into biodiesel for use in diesel engines. The cake can be used for fish or animal feed – if detoxified – and biomass feedstock to power electricity plants, or as biogas or high-quality organic fertilizer.
Amiril said they are planning to put more press mill in Maguindanao (1st District) and North Cotabato as more farmers are now engaged in the planting of Jatropha.
“Many have asked for seeds, but they have to wait for the certified seeds from Malaysia. After three years of planting here, then we can produce our own good quality seeds. It is an option between direct planting and germination of seeds through nursery,” he said, adding, Jatropha will start bearing fruit after 8 months of planting and it has a lifespan of 50 years and can produce 750 kilos per hectare each month.
Amiril said the price of the seed will initially be at P10 per kilo, but he explained the prices of seeds could go up if production increases. “It is because we will be directly dealing with Bionas World, we are the ones that have been trusted by the company. We are optimistic that this will be the product of the future. We are hopeful that the President of the country will order for the plantation of Jatropha as this project will help address the climate change issue,” he said.
Jatropha planting in the country was introduced during the time of President Gloria Arroyo who was very supportive of the project and even spent some P1.2 billion to support it due to the viability and sustainability of the project. But it was shelved when by her successor, President Benigno Aquino, for still unknown reasons.
But after Aquino’s term ended, the Bionas Group of Companies reintroduced the technology to the country, particularly to the Muslim communities, according to Amiril, and it peaked up almost immediately due to the interest shown by farmers.
Amiril thanked Dr. Sharif Adzhar Sarahadil, CEO and Chairman of Bionas Group of Companies, who has helped a lot in the reintroduction and background of the Jatropha project in the Philippines.
“We also believe in Jatropha, the miracle product to ease our problem with climate change, because of our passion to help our environment and also our passion to help our poor farmers in the field,” Sarahadil said. “Our dream has come true with this oil pressing mill here. Now the farmers in this wide, vast area of Mindanao can now start coming and sell the product. This would be a very good livelihood component to help our farmers.”
Sarahadil expressed optimism that the new Duterte government will support the Jatropha project just the way Arroyo did during her time. Duterte, who hails from Mindanao, is also concerned about the effects of climate change not only to the agricultural sector, but the environment as well.
But the challenge in the Jatropha project is how to convince big oil companies to use biofuel as an additive to fossil fuel since it would affect its revenues and give rise to potentially huge local market for Jatropha oil.
Duterte, though the Department of Energy, also sent a representative – Engineer Arwin Ardon, President and CEO of the Philippine National Oil Company – to deliver his message on the inauguration of the Jatropha biofuel project.
The President’s message reads: “This establishment of a Jatropha factory here indeed serves as a catalyst for a better Mindanao. This is in perfect lockstep with the plans of the Administration and the policy of our country. I laud and commend Bionas for making all these possible. In the process, not only will it provide alternative fuel for our consumption, but also jobs to the people in this part of the country, and additional revenues to the government in the form of taxes. Most important of all, it brings pride and offers hope and promise to the people and the island of Mindanao.”
“Jatropha, I am informed, has come a long way, from being just a material that was useful only to build our backyard fences and our children’s toys, and now to a most promising industry for our country. So I exhort Bionas to relentlessly pursue this bold but promising venture. Led by (Energy) Secretary (Alfonso) Cusi here, the industry will definitely be assured of having a much encouraging ally in the Government.”
“Bionas should be hailed as a shining example of the kind of private sector initiative and entrepreneurial attitude that we want to encourage and develop among our people in our collective effort to address the challenges in our energy sector.”
Sarahadil has emphasized that the Jatropha project has no significant impact to the environment, saying, the government has released the Environmental Compliance Certificate for the mill.
Jatropha can thrive in almost anywhere except in marshland or watery area. It can sustain with less water and has survived even during drought, but it needs more sunlight, especially when inter-cropping.
Zurina Amnan, the CEO of Group of Companies Malaysia, who was also present during the inauguration, has urged farmers to plant Jatropha and support the project because they will largely benefit from it.
“Whoever has planted Jatropha in this area, we will buy all your harvest. We will start from 10 pesos per kilo. When you plant a hectare with 2000 trees, that will produce 700 kilos per month. When you plant more, you will get more money. You got the press mill, this is a guarantee that when you harvest we will buy. Bionas must buy your seeds to process to produce the oil and from the oil we will produce our additive to produce our finished products. Bionas is already selling our finished products,” Amnan said.
“This is from Jatropha, very good product that can save your fuel consumption, products that can save your money. You can use less fuel in your car and motorcycle. Not only that this product can give have you more power, better acceleration in your car. This can also save you from maintenance.”
The Jatropha is an initial outlay of a bigger project to cater the world’s need in biofuel and to answer the pressing issues on climate change, according to Dato Seri Mohd Safie Jaffri, Chairman of Bionas Group of Companies Malaysia.
He said Jatropha biofuel is an answer to the global concern on the use of fossil fuel that is known to have a greater impact on the worsening climate.
“All the big oil companies have to meet us because they have to comply. In order for them to continue their business they have to meet us. All companies signed in accordance with the Paris agreement. Sometime in October we will announce to all 37 big companies in the world in Turkey that they have to comply. We are Zero emission this is the first in the world.”
“First have the 10-year plan. We plan that the Philippine will be the next clean Energy Hub. We have the technology. We fast track this project in the Philippines through investment. The price is not dependent on the world market. It is dependent on the price of the country,” he said.
“We will start the model in Cotabato. We are the technology owner will produce here. Six months after we started here, we will open to other countries to come here to participate in conference and technology transfer training here. Philippines is not small they can cater that. We can produce here because you have manpower. We target here at least 35 million farmers and it is up to the farmers on how many hectares they have. We chose only two countries that have qualified in Asia – Indonesia and the Philippines. The soil is suited for the project and you have already studied the project for 10 years,” he added.
The Bionas executive, who is also chairman of Energy Council in Malaysia, said they wanted to help local farmers by providing jobs and livelihood and for the Philippines to be less dependent on the consumption of fossil fuel. “Security is not an issue, we are in 52 countries and we never think of that. Our target is those who needed jobs. You will not have time to fight once we give you the work.”
“Eight products will be produced here in Mindanao, in accordance with the Department of Energy. This will be open to other countries to come here. Once we set up here, we will apply for patent here in the country. First we cater to your needs then we will open to other countries. The world must know that you are producing it. They could not find this in any other countries in the world,” he said.
For Amiril, who firmly believes in biofuel, emphasized that the Jatropha project would be a great help to the people of Maguindanao and to the whole Filipino nation.
“This is real business coming from Malaysia, unlike any other businesses that are tainted with fraud. We have seen the sincerity of people from Malaysia to help us out here. This is not only for me but for the people of Mindanao and the whole Philippines. This can also help with the environment. For all of us who patronize this project from Malaysia, will also benefit from this project,” he said. (Dyx Andy)
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