Coconut oil powers island's cars

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May 13, 2002
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#1


People on the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea have found their own solution to high energy prices - the humble coconut.

They are developing mini-refineries that produce a coconut oil that can replace diesel.

From police officers to priests, the locals are powering up their vehicles and generators with coco-fuel.

Inquiries for the coconut power have come in from overseas, including Iran and Europe.

For years, the people of Bougainville have been dependent on expensive fuel imported onto the island.

Shortages have often caused many businesses in this part of Papua New Guinea to grind to a halt. High energy costs have not helped either.

Increasingly, locals are turning to a cheaper and far more sustainable alternative to diesel. Coconut oil is being produced at a growing number of backyard refineries.

Matthias Horn, a German migrant and an engineer, operates one such refinery.

"They sometimes refer to me as the Mad German because how can you do that to your car... filling it with some coconut juice that you normally fry your fish in," he said.

"The coconut tree is a beautiful tree. Doesn't it sound good if you really run your car on something which falls off a tree and that's the good thing about it. You run your car and it smells nice and it's environmentally friendly and that's the main thing."

Mr Horn said his work had attracted interest from Iran.

Refineries like his also produce oils for cooking and cosmetics as well as soap.

Coconut power is not new in Bougainville.

The island endured years of civil unrest in which thousands of people were killed in a fight for independence in the 1990s. Dwindling supplies of diesel forced islanders to look for alternatives and the coconut was chosen.

In peacetime, new technology is propelling this sweet-smelling industry to greater heights.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6634221.stm
 
Apr 25, 2002
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#3
^^^ No. If there ever was such an intrest in the U.S. (there isn't and won't be) we'd import it (most likely the coconuts and we'd refine it) from the "developing world" rather than being totally self sustaining.
 
Apr 25, 2002
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#6
funny how iran is lookin' into it.. and if we wanted an alternatve source of energy.. hemp would be the best bet... works better than corn for ethanol... and we're fucken with corn right now.. just don't expect it at your pump anytime soon.
 
Oct 16, 2006
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Hemp said:
exactly.


GET OFF THE NEWS N READ TALLT, READ, READ, READ
no actually you guys are right... its the whole system, the government, the everything... Lol I jus like to use that 'blame bush' card :p
Most everything is owned by 4 major corperations... dudes so rich they wipe their asses wit bills... they could give a fuck about our enviroment, its all about whats in their pockets... now does that sound a little more on point?
 
Feb 8, 2006
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#9
ColdBlooded said:
^^^ No. If there ever was such an intrest in the U.S. (there isn't and won't be) we'd import it (most likely the coconuts and we'd refine it) from the "developing world" rather than being totally self sustaining.
Who decides what the US has interest in as far as energy, and importing as opposed to being self sustaining(which is possible).
 
Feb 9, 2003
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#10
There is no way coconut oil or WVO or PVO can produce enough diesel-like fuel to meet the demand the United States currently faces. I think at most we'd curb about 5% of our dependency on oil. It's a nice article but it's nothing more than a fluff piece. The answer lies in some other type of alternative energy source or better yet better performing engines.
 

I AM

Some Random Asshole
Apr 25, 2002
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#12
ColdBlooded said:
Bush isn't the problem. You give one man too much credit.
I agree with this. Bush may be a bastard and a piece of shit but he doesn't control the entire fucking world.

Possible in the USA? Fuck no. People here are too stupid and the MARKETPLACE decides what is sold in this country...so there ya go. Unless 150 million people start rioting daily until it happens, there will be no change, as usual.
 
Feb 9, 2003
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#14
2-0-Sixx said:
How is it a fluff piece? The article never mentions anything about the US using coconut oil as alternative fuel, it's simply reporting an interesting and true story.
Because it is interesting story and an interesting story only. It's a nice little story and im sure its true. But there is no huge significance to what they're doing. It's like reporting that a cute puppy was born yesterday. Yeah it's a good read, but so what? People have been using non-fossil fuels as alternatives for years now [like the Islanders of Bougainville according to the article]. I don't see what's so important that an island the size of large town/small city is running their cars on coconut oil. But then again maybe I missed the point?
 
Apr 25, 2002
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#17
GTS said:
Who decides what the US has interest in as far as energy, and importing as opposed to being self sustaining(which is possible).
We can place the blame at the feet of corporations over and over again, they are due their share, but consumers need to shoulder their share of the blame as well.

The modern structure of the American economy and society does not enable us to be self sustaining on energy.

I guess I don’t really understand your question/comments. If you’d care to re-phrase I’d be happy to elaborate further.