MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3131
BY SHRI ARVIND KUMAR CHAUDHARY AND SHRIMATI SUSMITA BAURI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA
ON 29.08.2013 REGARDING USE OF UNCONVENTIONAL FUEL.
(a) Bio-Diesel:
Trials with Bio-Diesel blend of upto 20% have been done on a few locomotive in Northern,
South Eastern & Southern Railways. No large scale induction of Bio-Diesel as an alternate
fuel has been done due to non-availability of Bio-Diesel in large quantities at economical
prices. However, very small scale operations in Southern Railway, primarily on shunting
locomotives has been continuing for past many years.
LNG:
At present LNG is not being used in Railway traction.
CNG:
One Diesel Power Car (DPC No. 19002 of Shakurbasti Diesel Shed) has been converted
to CNG-diesel dual-fuel mode and is running successfully in services at present.
(b) Bio-Diesel:
Railways have decided to set up two in-house Bio-Diesel plants of 30 Tonnes per day each.
The plants will be located at Tondiarpet (Chennai) in TamilNadu and Raipur in Chattisgarh.
In addition efforts are also being made to procure Bio-Diesel from trade. Works are in
progress in both locations.
LNG:
Railway Board have sanctioned a work of conversion of 20 diesel Locomotives to dual
fuel mode with LNG as substitute fuel.
CNG:
Sanction for conversion of 100 Diesel Power Cars (DPC) exists and contract for 50 nos.
have been awarded and process of conversion has been
initiated. Presently two DPCs are under conversion which will be completed in four
months from now.
(c) Bio-Diesel:
No market discovery has been made, as no tenders have been finalized for the procurement
of bio-diesel. However, the primary reason for using bio-diesel is reduced emission and
foreign exchange savings.
CNG/LNG:
With present trend of working of DPCs, with CNG, there would be an estimated saving of
16.5% in fuel consumption when 20% of CNG is used in DPCs.
(d & e) Bio-Diesel:
RDSO has carried out detailed engine studies with bio-diesel and found the following
reduction in emission with 100% bio-diesel as compared to diesel:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 78%
Carbon monoxide (CO) 43%
Particulate matter 55.4%
Unburned Hydrocarbons 56.3%
CNG/LNG:
Studies by different sources on the use of CNG/LNG indicate reduction in pollutants
vis-Ã -vis diesel approximately as below:
CO reduction by 90-97%
CO2 reduction by 25%
NOx reduction by 35-60%
HC emission reduction by 50-75%
No particulate matter
