Spotlight

New Delhi, 22 May 2007

NEW TECHNOLOGY REDUCES BIODIESEL COST

NEW DELHI, May 23 (INFA): Biodiesel, the green transportation fuel, could soon become cheaper with the adoption of a new technique developed by scientists at the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune.

The technique which uses solid fuel catalysts called double metal components, instead of the hydroxide-based catalysts used so far, was patented by the NCL one and half years ago, and licensed to ‘New Century Lubricants’, a US-based biofuels company in November 2006.

The NCL has successfully tested the process using 13 edible and non-edible oils.

The current cost of producing biodiesel is about Rs.27 per litre, and the retail price works out to Rs.40 per litre. The new method cuts the cost by shortening the process of converting unrefined oils such as jatropha, rubber seed, etc. into biodiesel.

The catalyst ensured continuous production of biodiesel and, moreover, can be used with both edible and non-edible oils.

Another benefit of using the catalyst is that glycerol which is obtained as a by-product is easier to dispose off in a solid medium rather than in a liquid state.

A pilot plant, using the technique and having a capacity of one tonne biodiesel per day, is expected to start production in India by 2008. ‘New Century’ is presently involved in talks with prominent petroleum firms in India, who have expressed keen interest in running the plant. ---INFA

A.P.’s  DELIMITATION BLUES

HYDERABAD, MAY 23 (INFA): Although the next general elections to the Lok Sabha and the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly are still two years away, the delimitation blues seem to be chasing at least 15 MPs and 108 MLAs who will be directly impacted by the changes, including the abolition of constituencies and reservation or de-reservation of their seats. 

All the other MPs and MLAs are also affected in varying degrees as their constituencies, even while retaining the original names, are altered with addition or deletion of some areas. At the same time, the formation of new constituencies opens up new opportunities for political leaders.

Sitting MPs and MLAs belonging to forward castes, backward classes, Schedule Caste, Schedules Tribes and minorities are all affected. Those who have been elected for several terms and nurtured their constituencies well are rendered “redundant” overnight, with their constituencies scrapped or earmarked for reserved categories. Simultaneously this delimitation throws up a challenge to political parties to scout for candidates in the new constituencies.

When the Delimitation Commission of India held its sittings in Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad recently to hear the objections and suggestions from the public, many politicians, who are being affected by the current exercise, appeared before the panel and raised a hue and cry over the changes being wrought to alter their constituencies or abolish them altogether. ---INFA