Should we all grow coconuts in our backyards?

This was in our technology report and I find it fascinating.

"AND FINALLY…First Country to Use CPO to Generate Power - Malaysia has become the first nation in the world to use Crude Palm Oil as fuel to generate power. Blended with medium fuel oil, the mix has been successfully tested at the TNB Generation power station in Prai, Malaysia. "I am very happy with the tests,” Dr Lim Kheng Yaik said after attending a briefing on the use of CPO as a fuel to generate power. However, Dr Lim also said more tests were needed to tap CPO's potential as an alternative form of fuel. During the tests, which started on April 4, CPO was mixed with medium fuel oil at a ratio of 30:70. The fuel mix was later burned in a conventional steam boiler that produced 120 megawatts of electricity. Despite its “high potential”, he said, CPO could not be immediately used by all Malaysian power stations or independent power producers. "This is because they are already using gas for power generation which is cheaper than CPO or diesel." Industries in Malaysia consume about 3.6 million tons of diesel annually to generate its power needs."

Joanne

[This message has been edited by Joanne (edited 04-20-2001).]