New Delhi: Kerala is all set to seek the opportunity of extracting biodiesel from algae. The state government has invited the engineer Vishal Prasad Gupta, who developed the project in Jharkhand, for an official meeting. Vishal will make the presentation in front of experts on December 8. 

Mathrubhumi had reported on the production of biodiesel from the algae in the ponds of Jharkhand. Following this, Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), an advisory body of the government, invited the engineer. 

As Kerala has a landscape with a lot of water bodies with algae presence, the project will be suitable for the state, wrote K-DISC executive vice chairperson Dr KM Abraham, in his letter to Vishal. He also added that the biofuel has been found as more eco-friendly and affordable over the conventional fossil fuels. 

Vishal expressed his happiness in getting an opportunity to explore the possibilities of his research in Kerala. He claimed that the project would be profitable here. The alternate fuel department of Indian Oil had also invited Vishal to discuss the commercial scope of biofuel.  

Vishal, who graduated in mechanical engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, worked for 15 years including in the research department of Indian Oil Corporation, before developing biodiesel. A special fuel pump, run by company called Orange Group is functioning in Ranchi from  2020 December to distribute the biodiesel.