While the global energy crisis spells doom for Kenya , it has in the same vein heralded new opportunities as plans are now afoot to explore alternative sources of fuel.
Both the government and the private sector have treated the soaring world oil prices as a wake up call and put measures in place to explore alternative sources of fuel such as biofuel production.
During the height of the energy crisis, the Kenya Bio-Diesel Association (KBDA) was established in order to spearhead the search for alternative fuel so as to cushion the country from escalating oil prices.
Although the ministries of Agriculture and Energy are working on a Biosafety Policy, Kenyans have already made massive investment in biofuel crop production.
Kenya ‘s Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Dr Romano Kiome told Africa Science News Service that the government plans to have $500 million worth of foreign investments in biofuel crop production in the next two years.
The Permanent Secretary says five multinational firms from Japan , Britain and United States have expressed interest in a government land-lease scheme to plant crops such as jatropha, croton, sweet sorghum and sugar.
According to Dr Kiome, the project will not only reduce energy costs in the country but also create employment.
The private sector has not been left behind in this search for alternative sources of energy as a precautionary measure to the unpredictable price of oil in the international market.
One such company that has pumped massive investment into biofuel crop production is Magadi Soda which is Africa's largest soda ash manufacturer.
Magadi Soda Company (MSC) has ventured into biofuel crop production to not only empower the surrounding community but also as part of its environmental conservation efforts.
According the company’s Mining Manager Luiz Kiema, the decision to invest in jatropha farming was necessitated by skyrocketing cost of energy and the need to assist the community.
Although the company is yet to start producing biodiesel, the project is a goldmine for the people living around Magadi as they are already reaping the fruits.
“We have not started processing biodiesel but ultimately that is our objective in the near future. However, farmers who we assisted to plant jatropha are already benefiting since it is an income generating activity,” said Kiema.
Kiema who also doubles as Biodiesel Project Coordinator told Enviroconserve that his organization plans to increase the acreage on jatropha in order to utilize the marginal land in the region which is not put into economic use.
“We want to expand the acreage under jatropha from the current 16 acres in Kajiado town and demonstration plots in Magadi to fully utilize the vast idle land in this area which is ideal for farming of this crop,” said Kiema.
In the meantime, the Biodiesel Project Coordinator said the company was conducting research, capacity building and civic education to encourage the local community on the importance of cultivating the crop.
“We are educating the local community, Maasai who are predominantly pastoralists on the need to diversify farming by venturing into jatropha production to make it profitable and commercially viable.”
“So far the rate at which the community is adopting the crop is overwhelming due to its multipurpose use. They have embraced the crop after realizing that it can provide cheap fuel, medicine and herald business opportunities,” added Kiema.
The company’s future plan to manufacture biodiesel is set to significantly cut its cost of fuel. Currently, Magadi Soda Company has put in place energy consumption measures to make business sense and conserve the environment.
Fully cognizant of the environmental effects associated with mining activities, the company boasts of an environmental policy which endeavours to protect the ecosystem.
In addition to the policy, its environmental experts conduct regular independent studies and audits on the company’s products and processes to ensure that they conform to both local and international environmental standards.
Apart from the studies, Kiema says that the company has planted over 10, 000 trees to create a carbon sink which goes along way in mitigating the environment.
“We feel that the company has what it takes to present itself for assessment to be certified and granted the right and license to operate and describe it as an environmental management system in respect to manufacturing soda ash,” said the Mining Manager.
According to the Mining Manager, the entire manufacturing process is done in such a way that it does not impact negatively on the environment and health of workers.
“Sodium carbonate which is processed to soda ash is a non toxic chemical. Exposure to soda ash dust does not present any major hazards. Workers are provided with protective gear to avert any danger.” “The purified particles of soda ash which are emitted are not harmful to the environment since it is the same chemical extracted from Lake Magadi . We have an elaborate waste management system which is sensitive to the ecosystem,” says Kiema.
He dismissed claims that the company’s mining activities were detrimental to Lake Magadi which contains trona, a raw material for manufacturing soda ash.
“Our mining activities are sustainable that is why we have been in this business since 1911 without the lake shrinking or raw materials diminishing. Those propagating rumours that we are degrading the environment are misinformed,” observed Kiema.
© 2008 Services in Scientific work in Africa
