Bolivian farmer turns plastic into tractor fuel

Bolivia imports about 95% of its diesel fuel, the cost of which has risen to 18 bolivianos (about $1.54) per liter due to wartime inflation caused by the war in Iran. This has made farming extremely costly during the preparation for the growing season.

Farmer Eston Machaka from the Bolivian Altiplano has adapted a plant in Ankohala, about 22 miles from La Paz, to produce affordable fuel. For processing, he uses the pyrolysis method, which consists of heating materials in the absence of oxygen with their subsequent decomposition into combustible gases, distillation, and purification into fuel for machinery.

Machaka uses plastic bags, rubber tires, and waste oil, producing from 80 to 150 liters of usable fuel daily. He does not sell the resulting fuel, but uses it exclusively to run his tractors. The cost price of such a product ranges from 7 to 10 bolivianos ($0.60–$0.86) per liter, which is almost twice as cheap as the market price of diesel.