Problems galore in biofuel programme, says official

The governments, both at the Central and State levels, have realised the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels and implement the biofuel programmes, said Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, V Umesh on Monday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the World Biofuel Day programme, he said: “Karnataka was the first State in the country to announce a policy on biofuel. It also took a lead in constituting the Biofuel Task Force in 2008. Currently, we are in talks with several government departments and have been successful in convincing farmers, local bodies and other government officials to promote and use biofuel plants.”

“However, the bigger challenges we may face in the execution of biofuel programmes could be in the form of getting subsidy, loans, involvement of public, among others,” said Umesh.

According to officials of the Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board (KSDSB), the State has more than 50 sugar factories that produce 135 million litres of ethanol per annum.

Out of that, only 30 million to 35 million litres is utilised for blending with petrol. The remaining ethanol is utilised by neighbouring countries for blending. Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made from starch crops. 

Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety, K Amaranarayana, said there were about 1.2 crore vehicles in the State. Out of that, about 30 per cent run on diesel. He said: “Barren lands should be used to grow biofuel plants such as pongamia, simarouba, neem, mahua, among others. These plants can reduce the imbalance in the economy that is frequently caused by rising oil prices.”

The programme was jointly organised by KSDSB and the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology at the Indian Institute of Science campus, Mathikere. Presentation on biofuel projects by MSc students from IISc and talks by eminent personalities on biofuels were part of the programme.

The World Biofuel Day is celebrated across the globe to mark the research experiments by Sir Rudolf Diesel and to create awareness about non fossil fuels (green fuels).