IOC plans to produce biodiesel

India’s state-owned oil and gas company, Indian Oil Corporation, has initiated steps to begin commercial production of biodiesel. The state-owned company has sought about 30,000 hectares of land from the Madhya Pradesh government and land from other states such as Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan for jatropha plantation. Indian Oil estimates annual demand of biodiesel at two million tons, based on a 5% biodiesel-blending ratio. (June 26, 2007)