India's Help Being Sought for Biofuels

These countries are now looking for assistance from the Bhavnagar-based Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) to begin research on Jatropha biodiesel in their own individual countries, reports The Economic Times.

According to officials at the institute, Oman and Argentina have sought help in initiating studies on jatropha in their countries, while the UAE (United Arab Emirates) has sought assistance to set research institute on the lines of CSMCRI.

“From fingers being pointed at biodiesel research for being the cause of global food shortage, the focus of the world has now shifted to jatropha which is a non-edible source of biodiesel and grows on wastelands,” said the institute director, Pushpito K Ghosh. The institute has been doing pioneering research on Jatropha Curcas since 1997.

A few days ago, a team from Argentina had visited CSMCRI’s premises in Bhavnagar and had a first-hand experience about the development of jatropha-based biodiesel. The team also expressed interest in forging tie-up with the institute.

“Argentina wishes to promote jatropha cultivation in some of the arid parts of the country,” Mr Ghosh said, while hinting that the institute could collaborate with the South American country in the coming days. The institute is also looking to forge tie-up with Ras Al Khaimah, one of the emirates of the UAE. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi had visited the institute last year and had sought assistance to set up a research institute on the lines of CSMCRI. “This research centre will be part of the Ras Al Khaimah Centre for Advanced Materials,” Mr Ghosh said.

The biodiesel developed by the institute had gained international recognition after extensive tests were conducted at the Austrian Biofuels Institute (ABI). The ABI which pitted CSMCRI’s jatropha biodiesel against fuels from other feedstocks showed that it clearly outperformed the biodiesel sourced from rapeseeds, sunflower and soyabean.

View The Economic Times story by clicking here.

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