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Thu 17 Sep 2009, 07:38 GMT

Cruise operators to begin jatropha trials


Biofuel trials to examine whether jatropha can be used as a marine fuel.

Ship operators Royal Caribbean Cruises and Celebrity Cruises are reported to be about to participate in trials of various blends of marine gas oil (MGO) and jatropha crude oil, according to Puerto Rican energy firm Energia Alterna.

The objective of the biofuel trials will be to examine whether jatropha oil can be burnt as a marine fuel alone as well as being used in a blend, Biofuels International said on their website.

Despite the fact that the concept is believed to work in theory, it is thought to be the first time that jatropha trials will be carried out in the marine industry.

If successful, demand for jatropha - which currently costs around $350-400 per tonne - could skyrocket as it is signicantly cheaper than marine gasoil. Yesterday, the MGO Index, Bunker Index's Average Global Bunker Price for marine gas oil averaged at $621.66 per tonne.

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