Exploit bio-fuel for energy security: Ex CBI chief

Madurai, Aug 1 (UNI) Alternatives to fossil fuel, available in abundance in the country, will provide the much-needed energy security and help achieve self-sufficiency, former CBI Director D R Kaarthikeyan said today.

Inaugurating the 'Bio Fuels Growers and Manufacturers Association' here, he said jatropha', which was most suitable for the prevailing agro-climatic and soil conditions in the sub-continent, remained an attractive proposition for farmers and entrepreneurs.

Stating that 60 million acre of wasteland was available in the country, he said even if 11 million hectare was utilised for jatropha cultivation, it would provide gainful employment to 12 million people with a production value of Rs 20,000 crore.

After extraction of fuel, the byproducts could be used as raw material for making soaps and medicines, he added.

''The fuel extracted from jatropha is reliable and has been tested,'' he said, adding no major modification of the engines was needed for using this.

Calling for popularising bio-fuels in a big way, he said farmers staying away from agricultural operations in view of the low returns could switchover to cultivation of jatropha used in making bio-fuel as is the case in Brazil. Unlike fossil fuels, bio-fuel is pollution free.

Since 73 per cent of the energy requirement of the country is being met through imports, Mr Kaarthikeyan said frequent fuel price hike placed the government in a critical situation. This underlined the urgent need to exploit bio-fuels in a big way, he added.

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