What has started as a Christmas fund-raising campaign in Germany in 2004, became a promising project in Tanzania: Processing seeds of the energy-rich Jatropha-plant into an excellent substitute for diesel. In Mpanda region we motivated several thousand farmers to intercrop their staple food cultivations with Jatropha, and they were able to sell all of their harvest to PROKON for a guaranteed fair price. Since August 2007 PROKON was producing Jatropha-oil from locally grown seeds in its own factory in Mpanda to run company-owned vehicles. The idea was to commercialize Jatropha-fuel on a larger scale. However, similar to other companies dedicated to Jatropha-cultivation, after some years we had to realize that this plant does not meet the yield generally expected. Therefore also the farmers focus on more lucrative crops such as cotton, corn and rice. For these reasons we finally decided in March 2011 to withdraw from our operation.
This website is available for documentation until further notice.
Information on PROKON's social committment in Tanzania can be found here (German).
Welcome to PROKON Renewable Energy Ltd.!
PROKON Renewable Energy Ltd. is dealing with the cultivation of Jatropha plants (Mbono in Swahili), the processing of Jatropha seeds and the selling of Jatropha oil. PROKON Renewable Energy Ltd. is a member of the PROKON Group, whose headquarter is in Itzehoe, Germany.
In view of the increasing demand for alternatives to fossil fuels, PROKON decided to expand its business field Biofuels to other countries. On the basis of its technical know-how and its long experience in the field of renewable energies, PROKON decided to launch an own project in Tanzania. PROKON Renewable Energy Ltd. was founded in 2006 to implement the cultivation of Jatropha.
Our latest news:
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) finalised
(October 2010)
The PROKON Jatropha Project is one of the first bio fuel project which finalized a full EIA. The EIA includes all technical, environmental an social impacts.
It is not only looking on the direct influence on the environment as pollution or effects to nature but also on the social and financial situation of the farmers and the health of the employees. It also includes the processing of the oil and the distribution to the customers.
This shows that our approach to concentrate on small scale plantations is not only appreciated by the local farmers but also by the authorities.(read more news)