History

D1 has identified Jatropha curcas, a hardy tree that produces seeds with a high oil content. The extracted crude jatropha oil (CJO) can be refined into high quality biodiesel. Jatropha grows in climatic conditions commonly found in a band around the globe 30 degrees north and south of the Equator. This places most of the viable jatropha-growing regions in the developing world. Jatropha grain contains a high content of inedible vegetable oil with good characteristics for the production of biodiesel. Jatropha is able to tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions and has productive lifespan of over 30 years.

Unlike other vegetable oils used to make biodiesel, such as rapeseed and soya, jatropha oil is not edible. Using jatropha to make biodiesel will not drive up the cost of foods that use edible oils as important ingredients.

In October 2004, D1 listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange raising £11.5m. We completed a second round of fundraising in June 2005, raising a further £26m. We raised £49m through a Placing in December 2006 and a further £14.9m in April 2008.