TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The fishing trawlers in Goa might soon be seen sailing on bio-fuel, extracted from the seeds of the Jatropha plant, if the Goa State pollution control Board (GSPCB) initiative works successfully.
Spiraling fuel prices and the global concern about the rapidly-declining reserves of fossil fuels have prompted the Goa government to examine other commercially viable and environmentally-friendly alternatives. The GSPCB in collaboration with Indo-Austrian Forum is now working on providing bio-fuel, the next best substitute for petrol and diesel in the country, to vehicles in Goa, beginning with fishing trawlers.
The members of the Indo-Austrian Forum, who would be coming down to Goa, in February, next year, have decided to launch the bio-fuel project on pilot basis along the coastal areas of the state. The decision was taken during the recent meeting between officials of GSPCB and the Forum in Austria. The project would be funded by the Forum.
GSPCB chairman Jose Manual Noronha said that the proposal is essential at the moment considering the increasing fuel prices. The use of Jatropha oil as fuel in India is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, this biodiesel has been fuelling remote rural and forest communities for many years now, he said.
Noronha said that the Jatropha and the rapeseeds (extracted to get bio-fuel) cultivation has already begun in the state and the Austrian company called ‘Waldland and the Öl und BioEnergy GmbH’, would be using the machinery for extracting the oil, which would be used as substitute to diesel by the fishing trawlers.
“If it becomes successful, then the same could be used in the agricultural field like in tractors or irrigational units,” Chairman said. Jatropha oil is cost effective, since it can be used directly after extraction, without the need for any additional refining. The cultivation of the crop is relatively easier, as the leaves of these plants are unpalatable for livestock.
Waldland and the Öl und BioEnergy GmbH have been working for over 10 years with the conversion or adaptation of diesel engines for plant oils operation.
The Company would be also working on constructing solar sheds for generation of power along the coastal areas, he said.
