THE GREEN STAR COMPANY HAS DEVELOPED A TECHNOLOGY TO EXTRACT FUELS FROM WASTE. ITS PRESIDENT, JOSEPH LASTELLA, WAS RECENTLY AT THE SADI- CARNOT COLLEGE FOR TESTING OF HIS PRODUCTS

Joseph LaStella has more the appearance of a peaceful retired gentleman than of a businessman whose company seems to have a promising future. This engineer by training worked for one of the largest U.S. utility companies before taking his retirement at the age of 38 and dedicating his life henceforth to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“My research,” Mr. LaStella says, “showed that the planet is in danger and in some instances [the damage may be] irreversible. Currently, it's like we were performing a full scale experiment [on the planet] without knowing what the outcome will be. If we do not change things, we will be in no position to come back to the original point [of natural balance on Earth]."

Relying on funds from his own private investors, always more enthusiastic on the other side of the Atlantic than here, and equity stakes taken by some states in his country, he has created [and expanded operations of] his company. [The company has] now turned into a consortium of various ventures. [The company is] listed on the [PINKSHEETS (GSPI.PK)] under the name of Green Star Products, Inc.

“The objective of our research is [to develop] biotechnology and fuels. Our goal is to use our innovative technologies to reduce petroleum consumption and CO2 emissions. And after ten years, results seem to converge [in the concept of a biorefinery complex to produce biofuels and other useful products.] From food waste (municipal waste) and other green waste (farm waste, forest waste, landscaping waste, etc.) which is usually incinerated (or goes to a landfill), Mr. LaStella extracts at the same time [cellulosic] ethanol, paper pulp and furfural. [Furfural is a simple chemical that] is very important for the [industrial] manufacture of paints, resins, plastics, etc. All or almost all [types of organic wastes can be used to produce cellulosic ethanol, paper pulp and furfural; and many types of oil feedstock can be used to produce biodiesel, including oilseeds, microalgae,] used restaurant oils, animal fats, etc.

“We have a unique technology,” asserts Joseph LaStella while jealously keeping his process secret. “We are able to separate molecules [to produce biodiesel] in two minutes instead of three hours and we can build a [biodiesel] plant in six weeks. In seven years, [the company's] production of [biodiesel] has reached [a capacity of] 15 million liters per year [per reactor unit]. A drop of water compared to the American consumption [of petroleum fuel], but Mr. LaStella (the industrialist) does not stop at this good level [of success.] He has signed an agreement with 1,200 farmers to grow canola (an oil seed) on their fallow lands in order to produce 31 million liters of [canola oil]. Mr. LaStella defends the idea [that the farmers can] make the earth produce fuels to run our engines, he sees [this as an] advantage for reducing the [foreign petroleum] supply lines. Mr. LaStella then resells part of the fuel to the participating farmers at a guaranteed price as well as meal cakes to feed livestock.

Mr. LaStella [believes] very much in algae [technology]. [Algae] represent an enormous potential that can solve all the Earth's energy problems. [Algae] breed like bacteria and feed on CO2 and then release oxygen. [Algae are also quite] happy with saltwater or brackish water. [The company can] produce 37,000 liters of [biodiesel] per hectare per year [from microalgae]; and with the second generation of algae [technology] [it] will near the 100,000 liters per hectare [per year mark]. Mr. LaStella does not sell turnkey plants [directly to customers but] is willing to sign joint ventures with [interested parties]. He is currently negotiating with South Koreans. Why not have a production unit in Saumur?

SADI-CARNOT COLLEGE IS AMONG “THE MOST MODERN IN THE WORLD”

Why did Joseph LaStella come to the Sadi-Carnot College in Saumur? The reason is that he had been contacted by the [French National Railways (SNCF)] and by [Ambassador] Jacques Bernière, a former diplomat now running a consultancy. [Fascinated] by the energy savings that Green Star's fuel additive can generate, Mr. Bernière has proposed to the French railway company to try their product.

“With [SNCF's] 5000 vehicles using diesel, the saving potential is substantial," says Mr. Bernière. But before taking over these products already popular with American transportation companies, SNCF wanted to finance a test, naturally going to the Sadi-Carnot College, whose reputation in the field of internal combustion engines for a long time has gone far beyond the area of Saumur.

The students in their second college year were entrusted with the task of performing the tests. “To back the training of our students on such an international issue is very interesting," said Christian Millet, in charge of monitoring the work. They have run the engine during several hours, with and without Green Star's additive to allow for a comparison. The results are kept secret for the final customer.

Green Star has also managed to arrange for its own testing. The president of the American company was all praise for the college saying, “This university in Saumur possesses some of the most modern equipment I've ever seen in the world."