Annual Growth rate -8% compared to world average of 2%
Oil pool deficit & subsidies Rs.16,000 Crores, Rs.18,440 Crores (1996-97)
Current per capital usage of petroleum is abysmally low (0.1 ton / year) against 4.0 in Germany or 1.5 tons in Malaysia
Even Malaysia’s figure would be beyond our paying capacity
Our domestic production would meet only 33% of demand at the end of 10th plan and only 27% by 2010-11
Investment in Biofuels make strong Economic sense.
Jatropha may be the Answer
According to the Economic Survey (1995-96), Govt. of India, of the cultivable land area about 100-150 million hectares are classified as waste or degraded land
Jatropha (Jatropha curcas, Ratanjyot, wild castor) thrives on any type of soil
Needs minimal inputs or management
Has no insect, pests & not browsed by cattle or sheep
Can survive long periods of drought
Propagation is easy
Yield from the 3rd year onwards and continues for 25-30 years
25% oil from seeds by expelling 30% by solvent extraction
The meal after extraction an excellent organic manure (38% protein, N:P:K ration 2.7:1.2:1)
Photograph of Jatropha plant with seeds
EU Initiatives on Biofuels
Regulatory package COM-2001 / 547 containing action plan and directives
20% alternate fuels for gasoline and diesel by 2020
Major options biofuels, natural gas and biohydrogen
Biofuels minimum 5.75% in 2010
Member states can give tax benefits
Bio fuels to include Bio diesel, Bio ethanol, ETBE, Biogas.
