BIO-FUEL: GOING THE CLEAN ENERGY PATH

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011
In August I visited a Cassava Bio-Fuel Project Site outside Kwikila in Rigo, Central Province. The project is initiated by the Korean company Changhae Ltd. I was invited by a pal and the company's environment officer, Joseph Pahau.
I enjoyed my two nights and a day there.
By listening to what the workers there said I was reminded of my Energy Physics lessons decades ago.
It is the way to go.
From what we know fossil fuels would be all but exhausted in half a century.
Developed countries are already investing in renewable energy sources like wind, hydro, tidal, wave, solar and biogas.
PNG is rich in all these resources but then, as most in the world, we have yet to harness those forms of energy and save whatever other fossil fuel sources that we may have - which includes oil and gas.
In the picture above are PNG University of Technology students, Crystal (left) and Susie, with harvesting supervisor Thomas Ond showing some of the huge cassava tubers that the harvesting excavator unearthed in one of its runs.
Crystal and Susie are two of more than a handful of students who were at the cassava plantation for a three-month practical training programme.
When they return to campus after the 12-week outing they have to present to their lecturers a completed research paper.
The plantation site is beside the ever-flowing Kemp Welsh River.
The place is quiet and spacious.