HPCL sees promise in Chhattisgarh's bio-fuel resources

Jun 2, 2006, 12:15 GMT

Raipur, June 2 (IANS) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has expressed interest in setting up bio-fuel production units and taking up plantation work of jatropha, a potential source of bio-fuel, in Chhattisgarh, a senior government official said Friday.

HPCL, a public sector oil company, made an offer in this regard at a meeting held Thursday with state officials including Chief Secretary R.P. Bagai.

Chhattisgarh is one of the country's leading states promoting jatropha plantations across 16 districts of the state. Jatropha has long been recognised as a potential source of bio-fuel.

'HPCL wants to set up bio-fuel production units and work in the field of jatropha plantations in Chhattisgarh as the state has been aggressively promoting jatropha plantations. This year the government plans to plant a record 160 million Jatropha saplings,' R.N. Mishra, Chhattisgarh's principal chief conservator of forests, told IANS.

Mishra, a member of the five-member government team which held discussions with HPCL officials, said that The Energy Research Institute (TERI) will provide technical guidance to HPCL for setting up production units and purchasing jatropha seeds from farmers in in the state.

Jatropha trees start bearing fruits after two years and continue to do so up to 60 years.

The state government, which planted 60 million Jatropha saplings in 2005, has announced that it will distribute 500 jatropha saplings free of cost to farmers for plantation.

Chhattisgarh has urged the central government to formulate a national bio-diesel policy to help it become the country's first bio-fuel self-reliant state by 2015.

In May 2005, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh became the first government functionary to use jatropha fuel for his official vehicle.

© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service