The good oil
Employees at sites across the Pilbara may never look at the food on thier plate the same way again.
What may appear as unassuming chips and inconspicuous lightly fried consumables are actually part of a much more intricate plan that goes beyond filling stomachs and satisfying appetites.
Many of the foods we love so much are part of an initiative that's so simple it's hard to believe. The same vegetable oil that's used to cook these culinary delights to perfection is also being used to produce biodiesel to fuel vehicles and equipment for the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation (AAC).
The story of the good oil started when Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation was faced with the challenge of covering the vast kilometres between Onslow and Tom Price on a fuel budget of just $8,000 a year.
At today's fuel prices this simply wasn't enough so AAC began investigating how to decrease the organisation's fuel costs by looking into alternative fuel sources. The solution found was biodiesel.
With assistance from BioWorks Australia, AAC was able to develop their own fuel sources, value-add their own commodities and reduce their dependency on imported petroleum products.
By collecting used vegetable oil from sites around the Pilbara and learning how to process this into biodiesel, AAC would have a renewable fuel source that's an environmentally friendly and cost-saving alternative to diesel..
BioWorks Australia agreed to work with the AAC - all the organisation needed was to be trained in the biodiesel production process.
Enter RTIO's Community Partnerships Programme. With funding provided by the programme for the full training component of the initiative, comprehensive training sessions took place for 15 Aboriginal AAC Workstart participants.
The Workstart participants attended a basic introduction to biodiesel, participated in a practical laboratory session on how to make the fuel and covered all technical aspects of the fuel's manufacture, its properties and usage, right through to the legislative framework for manufacturers and users of the fuel.
A mini biodiesel production plant has been established in Tom Price and AAC now collect used vegetable oil from the messes and canteens at many of RTIO's sites.
RTIO Supervisor of Community Partnerships Leesa King explains that providing funding for the training program was an easy decision.
"The initiative not only delivers a product that's environmentally friendly and sustainable, it has also delivered benefits to the Workstart participants involved," says Leesa.
"The feedback we've had is that participants have gained confidence and an immense sense of pride and value from being involved in such a worthwhile initiative."
Now, if you can't quite believe you can run a vehicle on processed vegetable oil - the facts speak for themselves.
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel that can be used directly in an unmodified diesel engine and can be blended with petroleum diesel at any ratio to work effectively. It's simple to make, cheaper than petroleum diesel, non-toxic, biodegradable and is carbon neutral so doesn't contribute to the greenhouse effect. It also delivers lower exhaust emissions and has higher lubrication than petroleum diesel, prolonging engine life.