The human bottom seems like an unlikely answer to the world's oil needs, but a group of South Island engineers say it has the potential to revolutionise the energy industry.
Researchers plan to create crude oil from human waste and sewage treatment ponds, perhaps holding the key to solving the impending energy crisis.
"As we're coming into peak oil and oil supplies are running short people are looking for new ways, that's what we're doing here," says engineer Wayne Harpur.
Harpur has helped develop a machine that takes the algae that grows in human waste and turns it into oil.
"The future of the fuel industry could be tipped on its head really," says Harpur.
A similar venture to make bio fuel from effluent is being trialled in Blenheim, and those behind this one say there's nothing new about the idea.
"Oh yes it is simple, nature did it 100 million years ago," says Chris Bathurst of Solvent Rescue.
The man-made process is the same as natures, except that it only takes a couple of hours.
But exactly what happens to the algae is a closely guarded secret.
Once it has been harvested the algae is put through a treatment process and turned into crude oil, from there is can be further refined into LPG, bitumen, diesel or petrol.
It was an idea born decades ago, but it's only since oil has skyrocketed in price that it has become viable.
And there is huge international interest.
"Everyone will use this oil, we are creating a medium sweet crude, so it's no different to what comes out of the ground, it's got full use across the spectrum," says Bathurst.
The plant is expected to be producing the genuinely man-made fuel next year.
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