The Hindu Business Line : Kalam calls for national mission on biodiesel

The President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has favoured a special taxation policy for making biodiesel attractive to the producers, since it provides many social benefits like rural employment and creates clean environment.

He called for national mission on biodiesel to realise 60 million tonnes of production per year by 2030. As a first step, plans should be ready to produce 6 million tonnes (5 per cent of present oil import) per year by 2010.

Speaking here at the concluding session of the two-day conference on biodiesel towards energy independence held at the Rastrapathi Nilayam, Mr Kalam said five large industries should be identified in biodiesel production and links established with 3-4 research and development labs to optimise the value chain.

`Priority for jatropha'

There was a need to create a national mission for biodiesel at the Centre and biodiesel boards at the State level, so that all stakeholders could work in a coordinated manner. He wanted an appropriate name for biodiesel to be found, according to an official press release.

Mr Kalam said biodiesel plants using palm oil should switch over to jatropha. A few States had started working with farmers and this model needs to be followed by others. He asked scientists to carryout tissue culture of jatropha for multiplying good plants in different parts of the country.

The conference was attended by officials from various Central and State ministries, scientists and farmers who discussed their experience on jatropha plant and various issues involved.

More Stories on : Non-conventional Energy | Rural Development

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Reliance opposes mandatory blending

Kalam calls for national mission on biodiesel

Meet on pricing of ethanol next week

Fear of inflation has triggered hike in repo rate: Deepak Parekh

Fuel price hike not a matter of choice: Deora

TN petro product pipeline is ready

SEBs stymie open access

AP reduces sales tax on petrol, diesel

Nisiet plans IPR support to SSIs

States sign MoU on Bt cotton

DoT's rural dream may be sold short

Call for self-sufficiency

I-T refund banker system planned

I-T Dept may face problems with new return form