Promotion of Small-scale biofuel
production and use in Honduras
Gota Verde
Duration:
01/2007 – 12/2009
Contract number:
EIE/06/277/S12.448446
Project Summary
Honduras imports the 100% of the fossil fuels it consumes. 56% of
Honduras´ export earnings are spent on fuel imports: an enormous drain of
foreign exchange.
A consortium of European institutions is developing Gota Verde, a project
aimed at developing and testing an integrated regional economic
development approach based on the promotion of small-scale production
and local use of biofuels in Honduras
Expected results:
•Development of the techniques for the optimization of the agricultural
processes for oil yielding crops like Jatropha and Castor bean, that have not
been grown commercially before.
•Development at the local level of the know-how for producing machinery
for the processing of the plants for bio fuels and the adaptation of engines
for use with PPO (Pure Plan Oil).
•Development of the local trade network with a local currency based on
the production of bio fuels to enhance the local economy.
•Development of a entity with the local partners to make the project
sustainable in the long run.
Images
Unripe jatropha fruits
Trasplanting
Engine test with biodiessel
CEVER
8000 plants ready to be transplanted
In Sulaco
2nd Consultative Committee meeting
In Yoro, October 2007
Main ofice Gota Verde project,
Yoro Yoro.
Background
•Honduras is the second poorest country in America Latina , it depends
100% in oil imports, In 2006 it imported fossil fuels for more than US$1,085
millions, this is 46% of the country’s total imports and 56% of its export
revenue.
•In rural areas there is very little agricultural expertise and traditionally the
crops are mainly survival crops like corn or beans, offering very little inputs
for the local economy. The production on oil yielding crops offers farmers
with a new opportunity to diversify and increase their income sources.
•Lack of credit, little economic diversification, dependency of imported
fuel based products and shortage of skill workers hinder the local economic
development. The new fuel based local industry and local currency will
help solve some of this problems and launch a healthier local economy.
Objectives and main steps
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V
Agricultural investigation and technical assistance
Improve agricultural techniques (fertilization, nurseries, irrigation, etc.)
Seed selection
Demonstrate the technical and economical feasibility of small-scale bio-oil
processing
Logistical organisation (seed supply, press cake distribution, oil storage etc.)
Installation of press and filter installation and biodiesel processor
Demonstrate the technical feasibility of replacing diesel by PPO at the local level
Training of local technicians
Installation of a monitoring system
Create a local trade system that maximizes the impact van of the bio fuel
introduction on the local economy.
Producers: credit system (in kind and vouchers)
Bio-oil users: financing system for engine adjustment
Involve local institutions and enterprises : presentations, workshops, meetings
Create a platform for the dissemination of the results of the project to other
areas.
Creation of open source documentation
Creation of website www.gotaverde.org
Dissemination of results in Congress,…
Expected results
•Development of the techniques for the optimization
of the agricultural processes for oil yielding crops like
Jatropha and Castor bean.
•Development at the local level of the know how for
manufacturing and servicing the machinery for the
processing of the plants for bio fuels and the
adaptation of engines to use with PPO (Pure Plan Oil).
•Development a local trade network with a local
currency based on the production of bio fuels to
enhance the local economy.
•Development a entity with the local partners with the
goal of making this project sustainable in the long run.
Partners “Gota Verde”
PPO Groeneveld
FACT Foundation
www.fact-fuels.org
www.socialtrade.org
www.ppo-groeneveld.nl
www.ageratec.com
www.dajolka.dk
www.ieep.org.uk
www.doen.nl
www.hivos.nl
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/
intelligent/index_en.html
Fundación para el Desarrollo Empresarial Rural
www.fhia.org.hn
www.funder.hn
Contact
Peter Moers
STRO Foundation, Nederland
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel (+31) 30 231 4314
www.gotaverde.org