Centre to release standards for higher bio-diesel usage in 2 months

The Shipping Ministry will come out with standards in the next two months for higher utilisation of bio-diesel in vehicles.

"Standard is there for up to 20% of mixing bio-fuels. We are trying to increase the same and in the next two months. We will come out with standards for higher levels," Roads Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said after visiting Emami Agrotech plant at Haldia.

"In phases we will try to reach 100%," Gadkari said, adding that this will help the country to save forex outgo and stem pollution.

The government is trying to explore the global standard on bio-fuels to adopt them in India, Gadkari said.

In Maharashtra, he said, some buses are using up to 100% of bio-diesel.

The Bureau of Indian Standards has been asked to set standards for higher usage of bio-diesels in automobiles, locomotives, heavy engineering machines and generators.

Gadkari said he was trying to formulate policies to push bio-fuels to farmers instead of bulk consumers to save cost for them.

"Bio-diesel is cheaper than normal petrol and diesel and so I want that more and more farmers should get benefit of this," Gadkari said.