ALTERNATIVES TO CURB CARBON-DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

New Delhi, 24 November 2006

NEW DLEHI, November 25 (INFA): New alternatives are emerging from different parts of the world to curb carbon-dioxide emissions.  A Spanish company has claimed to have developed a unique system to replace fossil fuels and reduce pollution.

The system developed by the Company is for producing clean oil from marine algae, called Phytoplankton.

Phytoplanktons are known to produce 98 per cent of oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere. According to sources, the system-developed with support from the University of Alicante, Spain-will produce 400 times more oil than any other source of biofuel.

For example, a surface area of 52,000 square kilometres can yield 95 million barrels of biopetroleum per day, which is equivalent to the entire world production of crude oil at present, and at a considerably lower price.

The new fuel will have all the advantages of petroleum, including the possibility of extracting the usual oil derivatives, but will not emit harmful gasses of or toxic by-products. Most importantly, it will not contribute to CO₂ emissions, but in fact, help lower emissions.

The plant which is to be located on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, will be operational in the latter half of 2007.  Production will take place in a closed circuit, including vats on land, although there are plans to develop processors offshore.

Even as this initiative is being highly appreciated, environmentalists firmly believe that the entire system needs to be thoroughly evaluated to find out the true reduction in emissions of CO₂, and the extent of lowering of other toxic material, before commencing its launch. ---INFA

UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY TO FARMER

HYDERABAD, November 25 (INFA): Power consumption in Andhra Pradesh touched recently an unprecedented 166 million units due to government’s uninterrupted power supply to the farmers.

To meet the huge demand, the State is operating all hydel projects for prolonged periods, which is abnormal.

The increase in demand by 27 per cent over last year is a result of continued power supply to farmers and lack of rains.

The State Government was forced to provide uninterrupted power supply to the farmers in view of increasing cases of suicides across the country.  In addition to the ensured power supply, special financial assistance, besides the loans, was provided to the farmers in distress.---INFA