The Ministry of Energy is planning to introduce a blend of motorgrade diesel fuel made from locally grown plants such as castor beans and jatropha.

A release from the Ministry said energy minister, Clive Mullings announced the plan while speaking at the launch of Biofuels Task Force yesterday. The taskforce will be responsible for creating appropriate policy framework and a legal regulatory regime within which a new industry will flourish.

In a release from the Ministry, the minister said biofuels were important in alleviating the burden caused by importing oil. It also said that Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Agriculture, has committed his ministry to working with the Task Force "to make all the resources that we have at our disposal in the Ministry available towards supporting the initiative.”

The Biofuels Task Force is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Energy and Agriculture and incorporates several industry stakeholders as well as multilateral agencies including the Organisation of American States (OAS), World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and UNECLAC.