Biodiesel factory to be built in Savannakhet

Vientiane Times, 26 August 2008

The Mekong Agro-Industry Company will build a factory producing biodiesel products in Savannakhet province in 2010, in an effort to increase the range of fuel types available to consumers.

Company consultant, Mr Phonesay Chaleunsouk, said the factory would use 10,000 tonnes of jatropha plants each year to produce biodiesel.

The corporation plans to plant 150,000 hectares of jatropha throughout the country over the next 10 years to ensure a sustainable supply of raw material for the factory in the future.

“More than 5,000 hectares of jatropha have been planted since the start of the year,” Mr Phonesay said.

The company is operating under the Lao government’s 2+3 policy, where local residents provide land and labour and the investing company supplies funding, saplings and a profitable market opportunity.

“The project will provide local people with the opportunity to earn extra income and support the government’s policy of poverty eradication by 2010,” Mr Phonesay said.

The company has also planted 2,500 hectares of eucalyptus trees for a pilot project to supply paper factories facing a shortage of raw materials.

“As early as 1966-1970 farmers in some localities of Vinh Phu found water levels in their wells near eucalypt plantations went down, deeper and deeper. Some marshy areas have also become much drier after eucalypt plantations were established; and under plantations there were no grass for cattle grazing. Public opinion against widespread eucalypt plantation was voiced and led to disastrous measures.
In 1977, the former Binh Tri Thien Province (now Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue Provinces) acted, and by order of the Provincial authority, over 30 million eucalypt seedlings were killed in nurseries. During 1988-1989 protest was voiced in south Vietnam, under the pretext that eucalypt planting might destroy the environmental equilibrium there. Following this, MoF had to issue specific instructions for eucalypt cultivation and FSI had to point out relevant explanations on the matter. Today, local authorities in the Provinces of Tuyen Quang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau etc. and in other localities still hesitate to use eucalypts for their plantation programmes. Prof. Vo Qui, an Environment Activist, clearly pointed out “It is an urgent matter now to carry further research for gradually replacing the ‘current basket of eucalypt’ by another mix of tree species more suitable to the localities in which plantation operations are badly needed.” (Seminar on “Eucalyptus plantation and its effect on the environment”, June, 1991, Hanoi).”

- Eucalyptus Plantations in Vietnam: Their History and Development Process - Tran Xuan Thiep

“Good morning, my dear Eucalyptus friends.”

- ..:: EUCALYPTUS ONLINE BOOK ::..

| tags eucalyptus | 24 Jun 2008 | ∞ link comments (view)

“Most farmers are turning from crop production to tree farming and in particular eucalyptus trees. Statistics from the Kenya Forestry Services indicate that between 690,000-800,000 hectares, which account for 20 per cent of the land holdings in the region, are under eucalyptus trees.”

- Kenya: Commercial Tree Farming Gains Currency in Western Region

"Eucalyptus trees suck the guts out of the land"

From the Bangkok Post’s Mailbag:

As a farmer from Australia, I do know about eucalyptus trees and their effect on farming. PM Samak says, “The roots will also act as fertiliser for the rice.”

This is total nonsense.

Eucalyptus trees suck the guts out of the land. The roots release a substance that inhibits the growth of other plants; not even grass grows around eucalyptus trees.

So where does he get his information? From businessmen who are looking for a quick return, without caring for the future and the environment? This is misleading information.

OZ FARMER

Samak backs Eucalyptus plantations

(BangkokPost.com) – Prime minister and Defence Minister Samak Sundaravej has ignored critics’ claims that Eucalyptus trees are bad for the soil by proposing that this tree, at the centre of much of Australia’s wildlife, be grown in larger numbers in Thailand.

Mr Samak announced his decision after attending a weekly cabinet meeting to discuss the possibility of increasing the number of Eucalyptus trees in Thailand – an idea initially proposed by Science and Technology Minister Wuthipong Chaisaeng.

“There has been heavy criticism on plans to grow more Eucalyptus trees in Thailand mainly because of a misunderstanding that these trees have a negative affect on soil,” said the premier. “I found out after holding talks with experts on Tuesday, that experimental tests have been conducted on a variation of the Eucalyptus tree. The tests showed that 300 trees will produce two tons of wood within five years if grown in arid land. If grown near rice paddies, 100 trees will produce five tons of wood in five years. The roots will also act as fertilizer for the rice,” Mr Samak explained.

The prime minister also disclosed plans to use Eucalyptus trees as a source of vegetable oil to make biodiesel. He claims that five factories have already been conducting experiments on this project.

chrislang

"Eucalyptus trees suck the guts out of the land"