Press Release 07/03/2007

Community based Biodiesel production begins in Ghana

Dumpong Biofuels, in collaboration with the Dumpong Pineapple Growers Cooperative, has begun producing biodiesel in Ghana from palm kernel oil.  On July 2, 2007, a team from Dumpong Biofuels assembled a simple processor to convert locally produced palm kernel oil into biodiesel, a substitute for imported petroleum diesel fuel.  Biodiesel can be made from any vegetable oil crop by a process called transesterification which removes the glycerin molecule from the oil creating fatty acid methyl esters.  Biodiesel is more environmentally friendly than petroleum diesel and significantly reduces exhaust emissions.

 The biodiesel processor was built on the farm of Frank Aidoo, president of the Dumpong Pineapple Growers, in Dumpong, located in Eastern Region.  The processor comprises two 200 liter steel drums welded together with an electric heating element screwed through one opening.  Additional piping and a small electric pump were added to pump palm kernel oil and a solution of methanol with potassium hydroxide into the processor, then circulate the mixture and finally pump the biodiesel into a washing tank.

The processor was built over two days and production began immediately.  Over the next three days 550 liters of golden biodiesel was produced which has already been used to power a generator and to fuel the farm’s vehicles.  After the palm oil is processed into biodiesel it is washed to remove any impurities or unconverted reagents.  It is then ready to be used as a substitute for diesel fuel.  Due to the solvency quality of biodiesel it must initially be blended with diesel fuel as it works to clean the fuel system of the vehicle.  Fuel filters will need to be changed at the start but biodiesel will actually clean the fuel system to make the vehicle perform more efficiently.  Biodiesel can be mixed with diesel fuel in any proportion and there is no modification to the engine to use this fuel.

The palm kernel oil was sourced from a neighboring village where palm kernel nuts are cracked to extract the palm nut.  The palm nut is then crushed and boiled over a fire of palm kernel husks to separate the palm oil, which is then gathered and stored.  The palm oil used for biodiesel is not further refined.

Some biodiesel will be used to power a generator that currently pumps water for a small sachet water (bottling) plant that provides clean drinking water.  Frank plans to use this new fuel source to allow him to pump water to a storage tank in the nearby village to eliminate the current practice of sourcing water from a nearby stream.

Dumpong Biofuels strategy is to take advantage of locally available oilseed crops, to included jatropha and sunflower seed, to convert into an environmentally renewable and sustainable fuel to be used locally to replace imported and dirty diesel fuel. The cost for making biodiesel is approximately 25% less than the current price for diesel fuel.  By working with community based palm oil processors and with local labor this project brings additional income to and quality of life improvements to the local villages.