Railways plan to use bio-diesel as fuel

The Indian Railways, which runs nearly 4,000 diesel locomotives per day and accounts for over 60 per cent of diesel consumption in the country, is planning to introduce bio-diesel as an alternate engine fuel. The railways use over two billion litres of diesel per annum, costing over Rs 4,400 crore.

"With the cost of crude getting doubled in the international markets in the last two years, the country has to spend over Rs 100,000 crore for oil imports. The railways have decided to use bio-diesel as an alternate source of fuel. Even if bio-diesel can replace 20 per cent of the diesel requirement of the country, it will be over Rs 18,000 crore per annum," A P Dikshit, member, committee on development of bio-fuel, constituted under the auspices of the Planning Commission, told Business Standard on Thursday.

The Indian Railways has taken the initiative to promote Jatropha cultivation along the railway tracks and to use bio-diesel derived out of it as engine fuel. The railways have even successfully tested running Shatabdi Express between Delhi and Chandigarh and Jan Shatabdi Express between Lucknow and Allahabad by using bio-diesel as fuel. "The railways may save over 400 million litres of diesel per annum by using bio-diesel, derived from Jatropha cultivation and it is even environment friendly," said Dikshit.

According to the committee, bio-fuel derived from Jatropha seeds may replace over 20 per cent of the country's diesel consumption. The committee presented its report in April last year, and recommended a major multi-dimensional programme to replace over 20 per cent of the country's diesel consumption.

First commercial production of bio-diesel as an alternative fuel, derived from Jatropha seeds has started in Gujarat.

As per the recommendations of the committee, the government has identified the states of Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh, Gujarat and Tripura for the Jatropha cultivation, which is to be organised on forest lands, in agriculture farms through joint forestry management.

At present, two Jatropha plantations are located in different climatic regions, one in Orissa and the other in Gujarat. This is for determining the best local conditions for Jatropha cultivation. Plantations of over 10 hectares is to be established in Gujarat.

"Besides the railways, auto industry is also enthusiastic about the use of bio-diesel. Its usage at the village level for operating oil engines for pumping water, operating small machinery and generating electricity is another good opportunity, which will be advantageous in many ways to our farmers. Gujarat is the ideal place for the Jatropha plantations because of the favourable climatic conditions (semi-arid climate) and the traditional industrial setting, many domestic and foreign companies are making investments here," said Chandan Chatterjee, general manager, projects and investments, Gujarat.

Recently, Ankaleshwar-based Gujarat Oleo Chemicals Ltd (GOCL) has shipped the first commercial consignment of bio-diesel derived from Jatropha seeds to Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), which is using the bio-diesel in test trials for the railways.