Zimbabwean Minister of Science and Technology Olivia Muchena has disclosed that his country has the capacity to produce bio-diesel from the Jatropha plant within a short time, local media reported on Tuesday.

She said a feasibility study on Jatropha had revealed that the plant was one of the most oil-yielding plants as it contained about 50 percent oil when compared to soya beans and sunflower with a much less oil content of about 12 percent.

Muchena was giving a lecture on Monday at Zimbabwe Staff College 19th Joint Staff Command Staff Course on "Zimbabwe Science and Technology Policy, Alternative Energy Sources."

"A feasibility study on the potential for bio-diesel production has been approved by the cabinet. All other documentation pertaining to implementation program, budget and human resources needs are available. An internal resource mobilization drive has been undertaken over the last five months," she said.

The minister said there has been scepticism among Zimbabweans on the capacity by the country to produce fuel from bio-diesel, despite the high literacy rate among citizens.

She said lack of adequate communication infrastructure for both transport and telecommunications in Zimbabwe was hampering growth of technological advancement as a service industry.

Source: Xinhua