Following mounting pressure from civil Society, D1 Oils Swaziland has been ordered to suspend any new planting of jatropha by the local environmental law enforcement agency, the Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA).  According to confirmed media reports SEA have ordered D1 Oils to conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment.

British based multinational D1 Oils have attracted about 2,000 outgrowers who have planted it in over 3,000 hectares in various parts of the country in addition to over 1000 hectares at D1 Oils operated farms.  D1 Oils have claimed that jatropha will provide energy security and help the poor to grow themselves out of poverty.  But several local NGOs have expressed concerns that the project will be more likely to deepen poverty and exacerbate the current food security crisis – nearly 60 per cent of the population have relied on food aid over the past 12 months.

For further information please contact Natacha at Yonge Nawe Environmental Action Group – information@...