Question : OIL SEEDS PLANTS FOR BIO-DIESEL



(a) the name of the oil seed plants, used in the production of Bio-diesel;

(b) regions, where these plants are found and the quantity of their availability; and

(c) the efforts being made by the Government to encourage its cultivation ?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES( INDEPENDENT CHARGE ) (SHRI VILAS MUTTEMWAR)

(a) & (b): Bio-diesel can be produced from edible oil seeds like sunflower, rapeseed, soyabean etc. and various non-edible oil seeds. In the Indian context, non-edible oil seed trees are the preferred route for bio-diesel production. The promising non-edible oilseed tree species in India are jatropha, karanja, kusum, mahua, neem, sal, Salvador among others. These non-edible oil producing tree species and shrubs are spread all over the country and grow in diverse agro-climatic regions. According to the Report on Development of Bio-fuel prepared by Planning Commission in 2003, the potential of total non-edible oils in India is around 0.1 MMT per annum.

(c): The Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal Ministry for processing the recommendations of the Report on Development of Bio-fuel, prepared by Planning Commission. The main recommendation of the Report include launching of a National Mission on Bio-diesel with special focus on plantation of Jatropha curcas. The Ministry of Rural Development have informed that Draft Project Report (DPR) for this mission has been submitted to the Planning Commission for their `in principle` approval and is also being processed for submission to the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) for approval.