Our project partner is the Mali-Folkecenter (MFC), a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has promoted jatropha production for the past six years. The Jatropha plant grows throughout Mali, and its nut oil can be used as a biofuel to replace the diesel fuels currently used to meet rural energy needs, and transportation. Since the existing technology for biofuel production is very basic, the MFC contracted EWB asking for help to develop a simple press with a sedimentation and filtration system. The rural town we are working with, Didieni (population 14,000), is northwest of the capital, Bamako. The town constituents are mainly subsistence farmers that grow millet, sorghum, maise, and cotton. Fifteen hectares of Jatropha have also been cultivated. The press wil be produced and manufactured in Mali, facilitating jatropha production in rural areas. With a cost-effective press, sedimentation and filtration equipment, jatropha can become an improtant crop for sustainable livelihoods in Dideni and Malian villages.
WHY FOCUS ON ENERGY?
Firewood and charcoal account for 90% of Mali's energy. Women are currently in charge of gathering firewood and selling it on the roadside, making up a majority of their household income. Fossil fuel imports account fo 8% of the national energy, and has a critical effect on the country's weak economy. Mali, however, is rich in renewable energy sources, especially biomass. Jatropha enables energy independence and a chane to escape the suffocating and expensive cycle of energy reliance. In addition to serving as an alternative energy source, the byproducts allow for further economic empowerment.
WHO WILL BENEFIT?
The town of Dideni is a rural town of 14, 000 surrounded by many other villages. Jatropha cultivation decreases the burden on women that gather firewood, and creates different markets for its uses.
Biofuel made from jatropha oil has the potential to replace diesel fuel currently used in farm mills and diesel engines. Additionally, there are thousands of rural engines used for grinding grain, and the inclusion of a jatropha press and sedimentation system would allow for these engines to run on jatropha biofuel instead of diesel. Currently, there are 450 multi-functional platforms funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that could also be converted to jatropha oil.
Locally made, high-quality soaps from jatropha oil are another potential market or the oils could be sold to Mali's soap industry, bringing in a high price and benefits the local people.
Other environmental and social benefits of Jatropha cultivation include 1) press cakes that can be used for organic fertilizer, and are quite valuable, 2) income from seed collection and cultivation, and 3) multi-functional platform operations.
Nobody is excluded from this project -- not from from gowing, harvesting, selling, pressing, sedimenting, or filtering the oil. Since jatropha can grow on land that has no other use, it does not require acquiring addional land, and land tenure should not be of concern.
The Mali Project Group
Engineers Without Borders
Design That Matters
Mali-FolkeCenter
Mali is ungergoing a decentralizatino of energy and this project is under that umbrella mission. in additiona to working with teh municipalities of Didieni, the Mali-Folkecenter has helped creae a seven-member Jatropha Committee to coordinate all action in and around the village. The MFC has been working with tDideni for two years, os this project is continuing this momentum. There have been meetings for local consituents and there is a general interst amont the town to promot jatropa production. The Woman Association willbe responsible for multi-functional platform management and small enterprise activities for women while the Youth Association will help plant jatropha.
This project addreses the managment of energy resources in Mali and is intended to show how xocial, economic, and environmental initiatives can be implemented parallel to fuel proeduction. Our project vision is to catalyze cultivation of Jatropha on marginal land in surrounding rural areas, continuing economic empowerment and energy security.
For more information contact project leader Marie-Claire Munnelly: mmunnelly@bren.ucsb.edu
This page was last updated August 26th, 2006. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please send inquiries regarding page content and layout to Jeni Eddington.