Project Solaris I

The aim of the project is tobacco production (Solaris) in Limpopo province South Africa, as a feedstock for biofuel production for aircraft. The projects resulted in an amount of 53 Ha of Solaris under cultivation, this was less than planned (100 Ha) due to nematodes which came into the land. Two harvest were done by mid-2015.

Processing & logistics was set up, involving processing, infrastructure, logistics, storage and the markets for the end products were developed (tobacco crude oil, high quality animal feed, biomass for local energy production).

A MoU with Grains for Africa (GfA)was drawn up. GfA is a wel-established press cake trader in the South Afrian Region. The biomass seems to be suitable as well for the South African paper and pulp industry. The cultivation of the Solaris project has been RSB (Roundtable of Sustainable Biomaterials) certified as of 1st September 2015. The Competence and Training Centre has not been established.

A database has been created including all the farmers that have shown interest in growing Solaris (29 different farmers in 7 different countries totalling to more than 6,000 hectares.

The project has been commissioned to the applicant Skynrg B.V. and partners Sunchem Biofuel Development South Africa, Solidaridad Network SA Trust, Loskop Kunsmis (Emds) BPK T/A.

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Project Solaris