Bedford Biofuels’ land in Kenya is green as far as the eye can see as the dry season is upon us. Just four months after transplanting, the Jatropha trees began flowering with some producing fruit. In March, we saw the first fruit ripen and the first Jatropha seeds produced.  John Mitchell, General Manager – Kenya, who has been living in Eastern Kenya for more than a year and oversees all operations on the ground, said plentiful rains in November and December saw the trees growing like weeds. “The ground is very fertile and other than goat and cow manure, we have not had to add any fertilizer. The plants are very healthy,” says Mitchell.  While the Jatropha trees are busy growing, Bedford’s Kenya team has put a 20-strand, 12-foot high electric security fence around the workshop, equipment, housing and guard compound. “We have hired our own security team and they are being trained to our specifications. We have uniformed guards who have moved into a four-bedroom guard house we built with a watchman station at one end and a kitchen area at the other.” Bedford has plans in place to build 12 offices in preparation for handling the employees and paperwork associated with the growing operation. Mitchell says he is awaiting the shipment of more equipment, has selected the site for the next nursery site for seedlings and is more than ready to handle the exponential growth Bedford’s Kenyan operation will see this year.

David McClure, Bedford’s President and CEO, says he is floored by the progress being made in Kenya. “Not only are John and his team making strides on the operations side,” says McClure. “But the actual Jatropha plants are exceeding our expectations. It’s phenomenal. Things are looking great and we’re full steam ahead.”

Finally, the Jatropha trees are in the ground!  Bedford’s dream of producing commercial quantities of Jatropha biodiesel is finally coming to fruition.

The land clearing and preparation at Kitangale Ranch took place during the month of September.  Preparations at Bedford Biofuels’ nursery began at the end of July and when transplanting began on October 17th, the plants were nearly two feet tall.  The transplanting process took just over two weeks.  John Mitchell, General Manager – Kenya, said it has taken a lot work and patience to get the company to this point in Kenya. “Everything in Kenya takes longer than we anticipate,” said Mitchell. “We are doing everything by the book and with support of the community and that takes time. It’s incredibly gratifying to now see the fields of Jatropha trees flourishing.”

In the spring, Bedford Biofuels received its much anticipated Environmental Impact Assessment license from NEMA (National Environment Management Authority) Kenya and started nursery preparations in late July.  Bedford holds 45-year leases for 160,000 hectares of land in the Tana Delta District in East Kenya.  Mitchell, along with Bully Dunn, Agriculture Manager, Harry Hayden-Payne, Plantation Manager and Ed Connolly, Nursery Manager, have worked tirelessly to clear land, manage local nursery workers, oversee nursery progress and begin planting.  “Our team is second to none,” raves Mitchell. “The efforts and passion of Bully, Harry and Ed, combined with the great work continuously being done by David Kombe (VP Public Relations) and Joel Ruhu (VP Human Resources) are what earn the respect of the people and governing officials and will ultimately drive the success of this project.”  Bedford’s efforts in Kenya have not been without the odd hiccup. Some opposing parties have circulated false rumours that the company’s NEMA license is being revoked and that Bedford is planting in the wetland. David McClure, President and CEO, travelled to Kenya in September to put those rumours to rest and to confront the groups responsible for the lies. “I feel absolutely renewed because of that trip,” said McClure. “Our project is full speed ahead. We have the support of the people, the government and the regulating bodies. The people of the Tana Delta are behind this project and they aren’t about to let anyone with self-serving motives take the promise of a better future away from them.”

John Mitchell cutting a trail on Bedford Biofuels' leased land

Bedford Biofuels has just started planting in Kenya, largely thanks to John Mitchell, General Manager – Kenya, who transplanted himself into Africa and has been instrumental in the company’s progress over the past year.

November marks one year since Mitchell made the move from Canada to Kenya and while his experience has had its ups and downs, he says he is committed to seeing Bedford’s Jatropha project established and dripping oil.
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The residents of the Tana River District have embraced the 10,000 hectare Jatropha project and are raising their voices in support of Bedford Biofuels against Nature Kenya, an environmental organization trying to oppose the project.  Bedford has met all the requirements to get approval from NEMA including a feasibility study and an Environmental Impact assessment.  The Tana River residents have seen how neighboring community, Pekatoni, has benefited from Jatropha biofuel produced on small farms in the Lamu area for the last 2 years.  The Tana River District is one of the poorest  regions in the coast province and has no stable income for the community.  The biggest benefit to locals will be the opportunities that will be created through employment.
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Recently, articles riddled with misleading errors and false accusations have been circulating regarding Bedford Biofuels’ 10,000 ha Jatropha biofuel project in the Tana Delta Region of Eastern Kenya.  These articles were published without input from Bedford.

Contrary to what is being reported by Nature Kenya, Bedford’s license to plant has not been revoked.  The EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) license was issued to Bedford on May 25, 2011 by NEMA  (National Environment Management Authority)Kenya and remains in effect.  Nursery preparations began in July and the Jatropha seedlings will be transplanted starting in November.
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