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Journalism of Courage
The government is working on a policy which will set standards for prices, specifications and marketing of biodiesel, a fuel made with the seeds of jatropha plant.
8216;8216;The draft biodiesel purchase policy is under consideration by the petroleum minister. It may be announced within a month,8217;8217; Leena Mehendale, joint secretary and executive director at the Petroleum Conservation Research Association PCRA said at a workshop held this week.
Under it, the government would announce a minimum support price for jatropha, lay down specifications of biodiesel and set up marketing terminals where biodiesel producers would bring their product to sell to the oil companies.
These terminals would have blending facilities for biodiesel with petrodiesel and sell the prepared biodiesel blend to retailers. There would be a lab installed to test the specifications. Currently, companies such as Indian Oil Company, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum have established their own testing facilities. Some more companies have expressed interest to market jatropha. The aim of the policy is to encourage producers of biodiesel and ensure purchasers a continuous supply.
At present, there was no sustainable chain and linkage between different parties involved in the entire process of biodiesel production and selling.
