Jatropha Curcas

Curcas Oil N.V. is one of the leading producers for Jatropha Curcas crude oil and Jatropha Curcas related products. The company, based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is operating internationally with its subsidiaries in Thailand and Indonesia.

The company is committed to developing and producing sustainable alternative energy for a sustainable world and to increase energy security.

Curcas Oil N.V. is therefore focusing on the cultivation of the Jatropha Curcas plant due to several reasons. To name a few, the Jatropha Curcas plant is not suitable for eating, neither the oil itself nor as base ingredient, due to its toxic properties which results in the exclusive use of Jatropha Curcas crude oil for the production of inedible products such as biodiesel. Also, Jatropha Curcas is subject to marginal requirements in regard to soils and only needs little amounts of water, thus, Jatropha Curcas has the ability to be planted nearly anywhere. These and further distinguishable aspects lead to the fact that Jatropha Curcas does not compete with food for land and is not risking any price fluctuations for edible foods. The oil content of Jatropha Curcas seeds can range from 30-40 % which is among the highest of tree-borne oil seeds. The plant itself is expected to have a 35-40 year productive life and can be harvested 2-3 times a year.

Several large corporations have shown interest in Jatropha Curcas as source for alternative energy, such as Daimler, Archer Daniel Midlands Company, Bayer CropScience, BP and Chevron. Airlines are also testing Jatropha Curcas biodiesel in their airplanes. Air New Zealand and Continental Airlines have recently successfully completed test flights. During those flights, Jatropha Curcas oil has shown competitive advantages in comparison with fossil fuels and other biofuels. At first, oil produced of Jatropha Curcas creates only 60% of CO2-emmisions of common fuels, whereas contemporaneously, the oil proves to have a higher energy density and is also lighter; one liter weighs 760 Gramm compared to 800 Gramm of kerosine. One further important criterion is that the glaciation point is lower than kerosine’s. During one of the very first test flights in February 2007 in a Boeing 747 of Virgin Atlantic biodiesel from coconuts and babassunuts had been tested. However, this oil congealed already at a temperature of minus five degrees Celsius and deformed into a gel-like mass and is therefore not suitable for aviation.

Finally, Jatropha Curcas has proven to be a suitable, sustainable alternative energy source. Increasing interest in Jatropha Curcas is expected. Curcas Oil N.V. is therefore supporting the establishment of Jatropha Curcas as competitive alternative to fossil fuels.

If you have any further questions in regard to Jatropha Curcas or the services of our company, please check our website and do not hesitate to contact us at info(a)curcas-oil.com.