A group of private investors from the United States, led by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher of California's 46th District, visited yesterday with President Porfirio Lobo to discuss the development of a biodiesel project worth an estimated US$120 million. The project envisions the construction of a plant that would produce biodiesel fuel using the vegetable oil derived from the non-edible fruit of the piñon tree. The proposal calls for cultivating piñón trees in Choluteca, El Paraíso, and Valle, generating labor intensive employment within small farms in those departments. It would include financial and technical assistance to farmers, as well as guaranteeing a customer for their product. In addition to providing biodiesel feedstock, the trees would help prevent soil erosion and deforestation in Honduras. The price of diesel fuel on world markets is currently about US$42 per barrel, compared to US$75 per barrel for petroleum oil. (photo of piñon fruit courtesy IDB)
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It would make more sense to me to set up a few used oil filtration stations, employ a few local tanker drivers to pick up all the old oil from restaurants and businesses, convert all the public transportation buses to run on this oil and develop a real eco-friendly alternative. Just a thought!