Hassan to get India’s first bio-fuel station

India’s first biofuel station is likely to be commissioned at Biofuel P ark campus near Madenur village on Bangalore-Mangalore National Highway 48 in the district by December this year.

According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Biofuel Task Force and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), the latter would set up the station at the park and sell biodiesel.

For every 10 litres of conventional diesel, 0.5 litres of biodiesel has to be added and supplied to the vehicles.

Sources said that BPCL officials had approached National Highway Authorities of India for license. BPCL would provide biodiesel for government vehicles at the same price as that of conventional diesel (Rs 44.70/ litre), though it costs Rs 53 per litre.

The University of Agricultural Sciences had set up the park near Madenur in 2006, to popularise biofuel by encouraging the farmers to grow neem, simarouba, Hippe, Honge and Surahomme.

Sources informed Express that over 13 lakh saplings and seedlings have been distributed by the Biofuel Task Force to the farmers in the district.

The task force has promised a better market to the farmers. The biofuel plant is expected to produce 245 litres a day and will produce one litre biodiesel with four kilo oil seeds.