GM to sign pact with CSMCRI for Jathropa cultivation

After the successful first phase trial run of bio-diesel blended fuel, auto major General Motors (GM) is likely to sign an agreement with Bhavnagar-based Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) for Jhatropa cultivation, institute officials said.

"As a part of GM's initiative to run its vehicle on bio-diesel blended fuel, the company's Halol unit will be signing an MoU with us for the cultivation of Jhatropa on wasteland," Director CSMCRI Pushpito K Ghosh told PTI.

"We have urged the state government to provide us 50-70 hectares of wasteland in Panchmahal to start the model Jhatropa plantation project," he added.

During the first phase trials, GM manufactured vehicle were run over 25,000 kilometres on bio-diesel blended fuel. The content of bio-diesel as fuel ranged between 10-20 per cent during the testing phase.

"The Halol unit of GM in Vadodara, apprised CSMCRI in June that it has sucessfully conducted first phase trials by running its car 25,000 kilometres on bio-diesel blended fuel," institute official said.

The bio-diesel was supplied to GM by CSMCRI for first phase trials, and going forward the auto major has plans to collaborate with the institute to meet its further requirements, officials said.

"The quality of our bio-diesel is so good that no alteration in car engines is required. Soon trial runs for running vehicles on hundred per cent bio-diesel fuel will be conducted," Ghosh said.