TREE BORNE OIL

Feed Stock-
Experiences and
Issues
12/12/12

Venue- Hotel Babylon, Raipur

Shri M Somasundar
Chief Executive Officer
CREDA-HPCL Biofuel Ltd.

CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED

( a subsidiary of HPCL)
CHBL- Jatropha Business challenges

Viability Gap
Funding

Plantation High Cost of

Stock Cultivation Land
(Low Yields, and Availability
Survivability) Maintenance

Irrigation Biodiesel
(Cost/ Policies
Feasibility)

Low
Business
Motivation

CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED

( a subsidiary of HPCL)
Jatropha: Expert speak

Jatropha curcas has gained attention during the past decade in the
tropics and sub-tropics as a potential biofuel crop. However it has not
met the expectations of the different stakeholders mainly due to failure of
large scale plantations.

Till date there are no successful plantations in India and elsewhere with
commercially viable productivity levels.

The major reasons could be attributed to low genetic diversity and

raising of the crop in marginal and sub-marginal lands resulting in poor
survival (20-60%), besides improper care during initial stages of crop
establishment.

Success of a plantation programme depends on good planting stock.

Targeting seedling production to the proposed plantation site is the
most crucial step in producing strong healthy seedlings.

CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED

( a subsidiary of HPCL)
Experience of CHBL

Jatropha is much input sensitive. Just loves Sun and Water. Even
native varieties have performed extremely well in NAARI in Dhamtari
district (1.5 to 2.0 Kg/plant!!).

However, there is no consistency and this yield is observed only in

around 100-200 plants closer to the pond and not in the entire plot.

Yield observed from the local varieties on a large scale is extremely

poor even after discounting loop holes in collection.

CHBL did not carry out any new plantation in 2011-12 but initiated
discussions with potential technical partners for carrying out evaluation
trails for improved yield.

These were M/s SGB USA, M/s Nandan India and M/s PolyGenomX
Australia.

CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED

( a subsidiary of HPCL)
Evaluation Trials & Credible Validation
Programme

1. How much area should be optimally taken up for these trials and results
considered for taking up the variety as successful and scaling up to a much
larger area under our mandate.
25 acres per site and to be tested in different agro-ecological regions (4-6
locations)

2. What is the time period required for these trials?

3 years

3. What are the parameters that should be monitored during the trial
Vegetative and floral characters (male/female ratio; no of inflorescences,
days to flowering, fruits/inflorescence, etc), reaction to major pests and
diseases

4. What are the parameters that should be considered at the end of the trial.
Yield parameters (seed yield, test weight, oil content)

CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED

( a subsidiary of HPCL)
Other information

DOR have stopped working on Jatropha and handed over

accessions with them - part material to Agricultural University
Mettupalem and part material to CRIDA Hyderabad.

Chinese have stopped their Castor push and are giving a major
second push for Jatropha. One variety CSC 301 (or something) with
very thin hull has been identified for further work.

Brazil and Mexico are also going in a big way and have good
Package of Practices (POPs), accessions and working with
leguminous inter crops.

CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED

( a subsidiary of HPCL)
Validation and other difficulties in Evaluation
trials

Method and structure of monitoring that is acceptable to scientific

community.

Standard Monitoring Sheets to be developed.

Periodic joint visits to be made and records.

Third Party, preferably from Government or reputed R&D institute to be

involved.

CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED

( a subsidiary of HPCL)
SOME PHOTOGRAPHS

CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED

( a subsidiary of HPCL)
CREDA HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED
( a subsidiary of HPCL)