BANGALORE: The race to find alternatives to fossil fuels and reduce dependence on petrol and diesel is hotting up, and India is ahead of others in the region. However, Thailand tops in renewable energy with 17 per cent of the fuel consumption being drawn from alternative sources, while India is looking at reaching a 10 per cent target by 2010.

These details were shared by Amit Kumar, programme manager, energy and environment, Winrock International India, at a regional workshop, "Pro BIOS: Biofuels for sustainable development in Karnataka" here on Wednesday. Thailand is exploring the use of cassava (from which tapioca is made), as a source of ethanol instead of molasses, and in a bid to shift from edible oils as a source of biofuel, it has taken jatropha seeds from India, according to Mr. Kumar.

Elsewhere, Bangladesh's new national energy policy has decided to levy a cess of two takas on petrol to discourage its consumption. It is also going ahead with exploration of its vast reserves of CNG and LNG, something that India is keen to import. As land is at a premium in Bangladesh, growing jatropha or pongamia is not an option.

Sri Lanka has a road map to achieve 20 per cent share of biofuels of the fuel consumption by 2020, and is exploring the use of surplus coconut oil as a source.

Winrock has joined hands with various government agencies, and the British High Commission, in an experiment to electrify a village in Chattisgarh entirely on biofuel.

The idea is to grow jatropha or other non-edible oil species on the edge of farmlands, and buy them from farmers to produce oil.

Village energy committees would be set up to manage the project once its efficacy is proven.

In India, there are many initiatives to promote biofuels, and a biofuels policy was adopted in 2002 wherein oil companies would purchase biodiesel from producers at Rs. 25 per litre.

The industry is gearing up to meet the biodiesel demand in the country for a five per cent blend with diesel.

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