BPCL ready to partner with farmers for biofuel

NEW DELHI: Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd plans to partner with farmers to cultivate biofuel producing plant 'Jatropha' and sell the fuel, a company official said on Monday.

"We are in talk with one of the north Indian states and farmers to cultivate Jatropha," BPCL Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) A K Bansal said on the sidelines of a conference organized by consultancy firm Frost and Sullivan.

He said farmers, oil companies and government should work together for the success of the programme that envisages doping of diesel with non-edible oil to reduce the nation's oil import bill.

The success of running public transport on gas (CNG) in metros like Delhi can be replicated in biofuels programme. This would also reduce carbon emissions, he said.

The government should allocate funds for cultivation of jatropha, extraction of oil from the seeds and blending the non-edible oil in diesel, he said. Local bodies and village panchayats should also be involved in the programme.

Bansal said as much biofuel can be blended in petrol and diesel by as much as 30-40 per cent. At present, blending up to only 5 per cent is followed.