Rupani launches mobile app for collection of used cooking oil

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Wednesday launched a mobile application for collection of used cooking oil from restaurants and food processing units and convert it into bio-fuel.

The app, named 'RUCO' (repurpose used cooking oil) is a joint initiative of the Biodiesel Association of India (BDAI) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Using this app, restaurants and food processing units can request the pick-up of their used cooking oil, which would then be supplied to bio-diesel manufacturers as raw material.

On the very first day of its launch, the application received pick-up request of over 47,000 litres of used cooking oil from various food processing units in Gujarat, said BDAI president Sandeep Chaturvedi.

Besides Gujarat, the mobile app is also available in Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Rupani expressed his government's resolve to increase the production of bio-diesel using cooking oil.

"We are committed to promote this practice of converting used cooking oil into bio-diesel. This process will ensure that the used cooking oil does not enter the food chain again. It will also help us save foreign exchange by reducing import of crude oil," Rupani said.

The event was organised at Kankaria lake as part of the Centre 'Swasth Bharat Yatra' campaign, aimed at creating awareness about healthy eating and converting used cooking oil into bio-fuel.