We have conducted Jatropha plantation in the following countries, and planning to expand our services to other countries as well.

Asian Countries

1. Cambodia
   
   
   
   [Jatropha Experimental Farm in Cambodia]
   Because of its high reputation in the BDF project in Tanzania, JBEDC was appointed by the Council of Ministries, Cambodian government to research the possibility of starting bio-energy development in Cambodia, and proved that there is enough potentiality. In 2005, JBEDC recommended to the council to start developing bio energy, and received consent on formulating Bio Energy Act. Today, JBEDC has established a firm for bio-energy development in Cambodia and opened a 200ha size Jatropha plantation as a pilot project, then started afforestation in 10,000ha size land by signing a contract with 3,000 farmers through a Cambodian NGO. In August, 2006, JBEDC has received funding from Japan Keirin Association to further promote the BDF business in Cambodia. JBEDC will continually suggesting and supporting for the betterment of BDF projects in Cambodia. By spring 2007, JBEDC is planning to formulate a bio energy plan and an Act with the council.
   
   By today, together with the local partner CAID, an organization supporting farmers, JDI/JBEDC achieved about 50 ha of Jatropha plantation. We are planning to enlarge this till 100 ha by 2008. In addition, we also started contract farming with surrounded farmers on Jatropha. As a process to further promote this, 3 Jatropha centers are planned to be established in Cambodia. Together with Jatropha, we are also planning to start Cassava cultivation, which could be the material for bio-ethanol.
   
   
2. Laos
   
   The Laotian government, including the deputy prime minister, is also showing a high interest in bio energy business after JBEDC held a presentation on bio energy in Vientiane. JBEDC proposed to formulate a bio energy business plan and the law to the government based on its experience in Cambodia, and willing to support the government in developing the bio energy business. In addition, JBEDC has established a company for the development of bio diesel in April, 2007, and started the cultivation of Jatropha. From August, 2007, JBEDC conducted a regional development project by promoting Jatropha cultivation in rural villages in Bokeo and Savannakhet provinces. This new project is funded by an organization related to the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan (METI), which is called Engineering and Consulting Firm Association, Japan (ECFA). Meanwhile, LBEC also started a model Jatropha plantation in Vientiane province and aiming to achieve 20-30 ha of plantation in the future.
   
   

   [Jatropha Experimental Farm in Outskirt Vientiane with the Local Partner]

   [Jatropha Nursery]

3. Myanmar
   
   Myanmar has started the cultivation of Jatropha from 2004 with a large promotion and support from the government, and reached 1.5million ha of planted land by today. At the end, Myanmar is planning to expand this to 4million ha. JBEDC has proposed a comprehensive support on bio energy business in September, 2006, and currently cooperating with them on creating a manual for Jatropha cultivation, formulating a bio energy business plan and bio energy act, and introducing a refinery plant in the country. By the end of 2007, Myanmar is planning to open a refinery plant. In addition, JBEDC has signed a MOU with the Myanmar government in February, 2007 and it is ready to start a production, sales, and export of BDF exclusively by itself. By today, JDI/JBEDC hosted a Jatropha seminar twice in collaboration with the government of Myanmar to further promote bio-energy. Although we were planning to start a Feasibility Study for a model oil extraction facility as the next step, this has been delayed because of the riot in 2007 and cyclone in 2008. However, because the tension is beginning to settle down, we are planning to restart the promotion and cultivation of Jatropha from summer 2008.
   
   

   [With the Minister from the Ministry of Aguriculture]

   [Preparing the Jatropha Nursery]

4. Indonesia
   
   Indonesia has already started a development of bio diesel by using palm oil and Jatropha with the promotion by the President per se. An afforestation plan has already implemented to the whole country, and it has finished planting for a few hundred thousands ha. However, just like other Asian countries, Indonesia has not formulated a concrete plan for bio energy project, law and supply chain, thus JBEDC was asked to support. By November, 2006, JBEDC will hold a conference to plan a more specific project to further progress the bio diesel business.
   
   

African Countries

1. Tanzania
   
   Tanzania is one of the countries that JBEDC has conducted a pioneering work in bio energy development. Because of the continuous support from JBEDC, the Bio Energy Development Committee was established within the Ministry of Energy, and thus a discussion on the formulation of organizations and law has been progressed. The Tanzanian government is planning to create a bio energy development plan and a new law that supports that plan by 2007. President of JBEDC, Dr. Kobayashi, is participating in this process as one of the advisors. In addition, JBEDC started a Jatropha plantation project by combining a small scale farmers and a large scale plantation business with a support from a local NGO. JBEDC is also having a talk with three local firms about establishing a JV for bio energy development, and to acquire license to start a Jatropha business.
   
   
2. Egypt
   
   Our mother company JDI was asked to conduct a research on the possibility of starting a Jatropha BDF development (about one hundred thousand ha) in Egypt from June, 2007 by JBIC. Although this is the first time that a Japanese governmental organization was involved in BDF business with a direct offer from the local government, we are assuming that there will be more and more BDF business using public fund in the future. The fact that JBEDC/JDI was offered to take on the first BDF business funded by JBIC proves the ability of JBEDC’s superiority in Jatropha bio diesel promotion. In addition, based on our research, the Egyptian government established a national bio-energy corporation, and planning to process Jatropha plantation. With the support from JBIC, Dr. Kobayashi, the President of JBEDC, is scheduled to held a bio-energy seminar in Egypt in July, 2008.