Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - Ghana is to start bio-diesel production from physic nuts for automobile and industrial use by the end of the year. This follows the near completion of the first phase of a 12-million dollar factory to produce bio-diesel at Pomadze in the Central Region. When operational, the bio-diesel factory would have a capacity of 360,000 tonnes annually.

Briefing Journalists in Accra, Onua Amoah, a Scientist and the brain behind the project, said that the Ghana Standards Board, Tema Oil Refinery and the Environmental Protection Agency have run and approved tests on the bio-diesel.

Ghana currently spends over 200 million dollars annually to import some 760,000 tons of diesel and another 40 million dollars worth of diesel for the Aboadze Thermal Plant.

Onua Amoah said that the project in the fifth year would produce 3.6 million tonnes of diesel.

On the impact of the project of the economy, he said, " it would increase the value of Ghanaian exports, by about three billion dollars, lower Ghana's reliance on imported goods by 500 million dollars and create employment for one million people.

Onuah Amoah noted that physic nuts cultivation is being encouraged all over the country to make the fruit available on a large and sustainable basis.

He renewed his appeal to chiefs and owners of huge tracts of land to put them under physic nut cultivation, saying; "the cultivation of the fruit is profitable and will enhance the finances of farmers throughout the country.

"Cultivation of about one million hectares of physic nut trees will result in two billion nut trees that would last for over 50 years. The trees would tremendously affect the climate of the country and influence the ecological balance positively."

He explained that a farmer, who cultivates about four hectares, would earn gross revenue of about one million cedis a month.

Onuah Amoah said export of organic fertilizer a major by-product of bio-diesel would earn the nation one billion dollars a year. "Other by-products include brake fluid, engine oil, hydraulic oil and other pharmaceutical and cosmetic products."

Mr Andrews Awuni, a Deputy Minister of Information, asked all district assemblies to acquire land to cultivate physic nuts to increase their revenue base while providing employment for the thousands of youth in their areas.

He congratulated the Manya Krobo District Assembly for putting over 20.3 hectares under physic nut cultivation.

Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng also a Deputy Minister of Information appealed to traditional rulers and banks to support the youth to go into physic nut cultivation.