Will the Minister of NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES be pleased to state:-


(a) Whether the work pertaining to extraction of Bio-Diesel from the seeds of Mahua, Kusum, Ratanjot, Karangi and Jatropha has been commenced;

(b) If so, the details thereof alongwith installed capacity of Public sector and Government sector in this regard;

(c) The time by which bio-diesel is likely to be available to the consumers;

(d) Whether any assessment has been made in the country regarding the total installed capacity of production of bio-diesel; and

(f) If so, the details thereof alongwith the fund allocated for the said works during the current year ?

                                                         ANSWER

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

(a), (b) & (c) : A National Mission on Bio-diesel is being implemented by Ministry of Rural Development under which Jatropha plantation is proposed to be taken up on 4 lakh hectare of forest and non-forest lands. The work pertaining to the extraction of bio-diesel from Jatropha oil on a commercial scale is a part of this Mission. However, no commercial production of bio-diesel is currently being taken up in the Public Sector.

(d) & (e): The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources have not done assessment regarding total installed capacity of production of bio-diesel as at present bio-diesel is not being produced on commercial scale.