Why Bio-diesel is important for Indian Railways ?
Ans : Indian Railways is the largest user of diesel, about two million MTPA. Indian Railway is also owner of very large area of land, which presently is without organised plantation. Railways have shown interest to plant the bio-crops along the rail tracks and other land available and it is estimated that the railways can produce enough Bio-diesel to replace about 5 to 10% of diesel required for their use. Introduction of bio-diesel in Railways may serve two objectives. Firstly, lowering of emissions and secondly providing enough lubricity to the diesel. The lubricity of low sulphur diesel is likely to cause concerns in near future when the sulphur level of diesel will fall below 500 ppm. Bio-diesel at 1-2% level in petrodiesel will retain the lubricity of the low sulphur fuel.
