Llibro_ISF_biodiesel

INTRODUCTION
Biodiésel y Cooperación para el Desarrollo
05
Biodiesel. The Indian Experience
Sandeep Chaturvedi
Gujarat Oleo Chem Ltd
Biodiesel has received enormous publicity both in the developing and developed world with a result that it
is now being considered as one of the alternatives that may partially substitute the fossil Diesel fuel. It has
received major attention because of the ever increasing crude oil prices, since the higher the crude price
is, the better economic viability result for biodiesel marketing.
Biodiesel can be defined as an ester of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or other natural
sources. Vegetable oils are mainly constituted of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids. Main applications
of vegetable oils are Food (Cooking), Cosmetics & Chemicals, Lighting and to some extent Fuel. There may
be several specific applications to the geographic location, availability and acceptability of the vegetable
oils.
Historically Triglycerides have always been in short supply. This shortage has been reduced to a certain
extent by few countries that have made persistent scientific efforts over the last few decades to increase
the yields of the oil producing plants. These operations are largely mechanised and well integrated within
the global markets. But countries like India, which is the second most populous in the world, are net
importers of vegetable oils in order to fulfil several applications, especially cooking. The average imports of
vegetable oils in India are 40-50 million tonnes per annum; only behind the crude import bill.
VIABILITY OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION
Considering the scarce availability of raw materials for biodiesel production, it may only partially substitute
the diesel fuel. It would need about 2 million tonnes of biodiesel to blend 5% biodiesel per year in India
that is the sixth largest fuel consuming nation in the world and its approximate consumption of diesel fuel
is 45 million tonnes per annum. This figure was about 40 million tonnes in the year 2003.
Biodiesel has several associated advantages that would be beneficial in terms of employment generation
and environmental benefits to the entire globe. It would usher in an era of decentralized economic boom
in rural areas of developing countries. Oil seeds needs massive cultivation and would need a huge labour
for its collection, which can be mechanized in the developed countries. The tree/plant provides a green