General Motors to sign MoU with CSMCRI for Jatropha cultivation

After the successful first phase trial run of bio-diesel blended fuel, auto major General Motors (GM) is all set to sign an MoU with Bhavnagar-based Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) for Jatropha cultivation, institute officials said. “As a part of GM’s initiative to run its vehicles on bio-diesel blended fuel, the company’s Halol unit will be signing an MoU with us for the cultivation of Jatropha on wasteland,” Director CSMCRI Pushpito K Ghosh said.

“We have urged the state government to provide us 50-70 hectares of wasteland in Panchmahals to start the model Jatropha plantation project,” he added.

During the first phase trials, GM manufactured vehicles were run over 25,000 kilometres on bio-diesel blended fuel. The content of bio-diesel as fuel ranged between 10-20 per cent during the testing phase. “The Halol unit of GM in Vadodara apprised CSMCRI in June that it has successfully conducted the first phase trials by running its car for 25,000 kilometres on bio-diesel blended fuel,” institute official said.

The bio-diesel was supplied to GM by CSMCRI for first phase trials and going forward, the auto major has plans to collaborate with the institute to meet its further requirements, officials said.