(a) the potential and production target of bio-fuel from jatropha and molasses;
(b) whether the Government proposes to set up a regulatory
authority to ensure focus and direction to this new sector to
develop upto its potential; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(CHANDRA SHEKHAR SAHU)
(a) to (c) The Planning Commission`s Committee on
Development of Bio-fuels (2003) estimated that the high-speed
diesel (HSD) demand by the end of the XIth Plan (2011-12)
would be 66.9 million metric tones (MMT), requiring 13.38 MMT
of bio-diesel for achieving the target of 20% blending of bio-
diesel with diesel. The Committee estimated that jatropha
would have to be planted over 11.2 million hectares of land to
achieve this 20% blending target, against which 32.29 million
hectares of wastelands including degraded forestlands is
considered suitable for jatropha cultivation. In respect of
ethanol, which is essentially produced from molasses, the
Committee projected that a 10% blending with petrol would be
achievable with the current capacity of ethanol production in
the country.
The Ministry of Rural Development has been identified as
the nodal ministry for launching the National Mission on Bio-
diesel, initially through a demonstration phase. Under the
demonstration phase, it is proposed to cover 5 lakh hectares
of public wastelands with jatropha plantations in different
agro-climatic regions of the country, over a period of 5
years. Jatropha seed from these plantations is expected to
yield about 6 lakh tonnes of bio-diesel. The demonstration
phase is proposed to be followed up by a self-sustaining
expansion of the bio- diesel programme to meet the 20%
blending target.