9/1/06 Nairobi (The Nation) -  The Government, concerned at the high cost of fossil fuel, is promoting the use of alternative energy. A ministry of Energy official says a policy that will support local production of power alcohol and biodiesel using molasses and vegetable-based derivatives is in the pipeline.

Kenya's total oil import bill rose by 37.6 per cent from Sh64.5 billion in 2003 to Sh88.8 billion in 2004 due to an increase in the price of crude oil and refined petroleum products. The high cost of petrol and diesel has spurred a lot of interest in power alcohol and biodiesel globally. Biodiesel can be extracted from methyl ester, a vegetable-based derivative obtained from jetropha, croton, oil palm and coconut, among other plants.

"The Government will in the next financial commission a study on power alcohol and biodisels with the aim of developing a biofuels policy to redress the imbalance arising from petroleum imports," said Jackson Maina, acting director of renewable energy at the ministry.

Mr Maina said there is need for research to develop and exploit the potential of alternative energy sources while learning from the experiences of other countries that have succeeded in implementing the technology. The study will examine technology and policies relevant to the development of biofuels with the aim of encouraging production and consumption of power alcohol and biodiesel.

The Ministry of Energy is working with Jomo Kenya University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (Kidri) and Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri), among others.

The ministry is already in the process of undertaking collaborative research with Kefri for bioenergy including biodiesel, Mr Maina said. The joint venture will develop biotechnologies for growing jetropha among other crops in arid and semi-arid lands for biodiesel production. It is expected that the Government will formulate strategies to optimise land use as well as harmonise land and energy policies.

The ministry says it will promote the growing of appropriate tree species for the production of feedstock for manufacture of biodiesel.

Mr Maina said the Government wants to make domestic power alcohol production competitive to facilitate its re-introduction as a motor fuel blend in the country. In 1980s power alcohol produced by the Kisumu based Agro-Chemical and Food Company (ACFC) was blended with petrol and marketed as gasohol in Kenya. But ACFC found other markets for its alcohol and stopped the gasohol programme.

Mumias Sugar Company (MSC) has already expressed the desire to carry out a feasibility study on production of power alcohol using molasses.

Managing director Evans Kidero recently said the firm would assess the economic viability of producing and selling the product.

US-based DSK Ltd plans to introduce biodiesel manufactured from soybeans in Kenya and Uganda.

The firm has already held talks with ministries of Energy in Kenya and Uganda. Biodiesel reduces air pollution and emission of noxious gases by about 90 per cent.