Jatropha is of interest to improve the energy independence of African countries. It grows on poor soils without competing with food production and provides a very good yield of oil. Crude oil or Biodiesel production intended for local use will generate economic returns for the population and help African countries face the inevitable rise in the price of oil.

In contrast with other biofuels which necessitate deforestation (such as sugar cane or palm oil), or those which have low energy yield and are large consumers of polluting factors in production (fertiliser, pesticides), Jatropha is a biofuel which has only  positive impacts: it requires neither fertiliser nor pesticide, grows on unused poor soils and does not compete with any food crops. The by-products from pressing the seed are useable for various activities (production of organic fertilisers, soap and energy by methanisation) and its production and local use create jobs. Finally, it regenerates arid soils and it is possible to cultivate food crops between rows of Jatropha...

Substituting Jatropha oil for diesel allows CO2 emissions to be avoided. In theory, the generation of carbon credits is thus possible. The sale of these carbon credits would not enable the plantation and oil production project to be financed, but could improve the project’s profitability. In any case, this could only apply in projects of several thousand hectares (indeed, setting up a carbon compensation project represents a cost of several tens of thousands of Euros).

Unfortunately, the methodologies approved at the UNFCCC do not allow this type of project to be launched at the moment. There is, however, an exception: projects which use crude oil in developing countries for use in a fleet of captive vehicles are possible (i.e., the use of crude oil in a company or community which has its own tank and pump, and which only fills the fuel-tanks of its own vehicles).

Meanwhile, Kiva Carbon is undertaking an agronomic experiment in Mali and is considering setting up pilot projects with local non-profit associations ; these small community projects will generate strong social, economic and environmental benefits : creation of nurseries; plantation of 650 000 trees in a group of villages; planting of hedges around villages and around collective areas; planting of fields with food crops interspersed; local pressing of seeds and use of the crude oil to replace diesel in the villagers’ vehicles and diesel engines.