Brasília, November 4, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Six billion liters of mineral diesel oil imported annually could be replaced by domestic production of vegetable diesel oil, providing jobs and income to thousands of families in the semi-arid region of the Northeast and other poor regions in the country. The use of all oilseed plants and even sewages fats as raw materials for vegetable diesel fuel is what is envisioned in a bill to be presented tomorrow by Deputy Ariosto Holanda (PSDB/CE) for public consultation, during the debates over "Biodiesel and Social Inclusion" sponsored by the Chamber of Deputy's Council of Advanced Studies and Technological Assessment.

According to the legislator, studies reveal that 200 thousand families could grow castor beans and produce a billion liters of vegetable diesel oil annually. With the substitution of imports, a million an a half families would be benefitted. He recalled that in the Northeast castor beans "are scrub," because they don't succumb to drought and disease and don't require special care. (DAS)