Uganda plans to be a leading producer of bio-diesel by next year.

A local company Africa Power Initiative (API) is in the advanced stages of producing 60,000 litres a day from locally grown jatropha and other oil seeds in country’s north-eastern region.

The project, the only one of its kind in Africa that fully integrates the local community, is the brainchild of API in partnership with America investors.

About 500 people are working on the 2,000 acres of land.

Jatropha yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare than soy bean and 10 times than maize. Jatropha seeds are crushed, to give jatropha oil that is processed to produce high-quality bio-diesel.

The company also plans to process biomass for electicity, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers and industrial chemicals.