Bio-diesel supply for Region One
- part of Gov’t focus on agro-energy development

Georgetown, GINA, April 7, 2007.

Government’s interest in the development of a vibrant agro-energy sector has heightened with the agreement recently signed between Agri-Supplies Technology Incorporated and the Regional Administration of Region One for the supply of bio-diesel to that Region. The fuel will be produced at the Wauna Oil Palm Estate, Region One, which was upgraded to produce bio-diesel following a joint venture between the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) and a private investor from Canada, Dwarka Persaud.
            A pilot project was initially carried out in Region One to test the supply of fuel produced at the estate. The success of the experiment resulted in an agreement which is the first for commercial supply of bio-diesel.
            Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud who witnessed the signing, said the agreement will ensure a readily available market for diesel produced at the Estate and will be sold at a cheaper cost than fossil fuel.
            He commended the investor for developing the Palm Oil Estate which will ensure job security and create more opportunities for economic development in the Region. The Wauna Estate had experienced tremendous difficulties in the past.
            The Minister urged that focus be placed on expansion of cultivation to ensure increased production. The initiative is significant nationally, since it represents Government’s vision to develop other sources of energy and reduce dependency on fossil fuel, he added.
            It is expected that development of the Palma Oil Estate to produce bio-diesel, will inspire other estates to develop other technologies and encourage other investors.
            Director of IAST Dr. Suresh Narine, said the project at Wauna represents a model for the utilisation of appropriate technology for sustainable development and  poverty reduction.
            The private investor, Dwarka Persaud, noted that total upgrading of the estate over the next five years will require  more than US$1.5M while US$ 220, 000 has been invested to date. 
            Head of the Privatisation Unit Winston Brassington, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Ganga Persaud, officials of Agri-Supplies and IAST were was also present at the signing.   
            The Wauna Oil Palm Estate (WOPE) was established by the Ministry of Agriculture in the 1970s, as a pilot project to test the viability of cultivating oil palm in Guyana. From 1972 to 1983, the Ministry cleared an area of 1,400 acres, but only cultivated 1,000 acres (400 hectares) with 50, 000 palms that were purchased from Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.
            The estate was subsequently handed over to Guyana Agricultural Products Company, and then later to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), which transferred it to the National Edible Company Limited (NEOCOL) in 1985.   

            NEOCOL processed coconut oil and made attempts to process palm oil. However, this attempt was unsuccessful and the crude palm oil was sold to animal feed producers for inclusion in their animal feed products.