Nippon Biofuel selected for Japanese marine biofuel project

Nippon biofuel has been selected for a Japanese government-backed project to build a production and supply model for jatropha-based marine biofuel from Africa to Asia.

IMAGE: Jatropha intercropping with maize and cowpea. Nippon Biofuels

The company said that the Japanese government will invest around 7 billion Japanese yen ($44 million) for the project. This will include around 4 billion Japanese yen ($25 million) in subsidies.

Nippon Biofuels will produce biofuel from jatropha cultivated in Mozambique's Nampula Province and Ghana's Bono East region.

Its goal is to ramp up production capacity to 400,000 mt/year of jatropha-based biofuel by 2032.

Jatropha is a non-edible, drought-resistant oilseed crop that can grow on marginal land that is not suitable for agriculture.

Nippon will develop biofuel bunkering in Mozambique, Ghana, Singapore and Japan. The initiative will also involve fuel supply demonstrations for ocean-going vessels and domestic vessels.

The company says the jatropha biofuel will be designed to be aligned with decarbonisation regulations like the EU's FuelEU Maritime.

Nippon will lead the project. Several companies and organisations have expressed interest in being involved, including Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Kuribayashi Steamship, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, Fujii Oil and Tottori University. But their participation is not yet confirmed.

Last month, Nippon said it had supplied a jatropha-based B10 biofuel blend to a RoRo vessel operated by Kuribayashi Steamship during a bunkering trial.

Its project will also include carbon removal through afforestation and biochar production.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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