Cooking Oil to Biodisel: FSSAI launches RUCO initiative

World Biofuel Day and The Announcement

Contents

World Biofuel Day and The Announcement
Collection and Repurposing of UCO
Conclusion

The World Biofuel day was observed this year in India by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas on the 10th of August. In lieu of this event, we received news that FSSAI launches RUCO initiative to help convert used cooking oil into biodiesel. RUCO basically stands Repurpose Used Cooking Oil. The Prime Minister spoke on the occasion of the world biofuel day claiming that India has been bestowed with an abundance of resources which open up sustainable and eco-friendly avenues for the production of biofuels. Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also added that the consumption and production of biofuels should be encouraged “in every possible way”. He also stressed the fact that using biofuels will be impactful in changing the day-to-day lives of India’s citizens.

RUCO is basically an “ecosystem” which will help enable the collection as well conversion of used cooking oil into biofuel. As addressed by the Prime Minister, the scope for performing this kind of initiative in India is huge. India stands among one of the top consumers of vegetable oil in the world. FSSAI reports that if done through properly coordinated efforts, we can potentially enable the conversion of over 220 Crore Litres of UCO(Used Cooking Oil) into biofuels by the time we hit the year 2022.

Collection and Repurposing of UCO

FSSAI has identified a total of 64 companies across 101 locations who can arrange for proper provisions to facilitate the collection of Used Cooking oil. McDonald’s branches across Pune and Mumbai have taken up the chance to be the first ones to start with the collection of used cooking for conversion into biofuels. Along with McDonald’s, there are many other businesses who have started the collection and repurposing UCO. These include Bangalore-based ECO green fuels Biod Energy, Delhi as well as Kaleesuwari Refinery Pvt Ltd. This clearly indicates huge potential India has to be even more self-reliant for our fueling needs. FSSAI has also entered into a partnership with BDAI (Biodiesel Authority of India) so they can both join in coordinate efforts for ensuring compliance for used cooking oil regulations.

FSSAI is one of the most active government bodies on Social Media platforms. Pushing several awareness campaigns through their e-channels. The regulatory authority is also in the process of publishing guidance documents, tips for consumers and posters to help educate the benefits of repurposing the huge amounts of used cooking oil. The main aim of the educating process is basically done for the purpose of curbing the disposal of UCO in environmentally hazardous manners. Even harmful is the fact that this used cook oil sometimes is not disposed of at all and makes it way smaller food joints, cafes as well as street vendors and dhabbas. FSSAI has also played down regulations and test methods to oversee better utilization of the used cooking oil.

Conclusion

This declaration for the RUCO initiative also comes succeeding the regulations set by the authority for monitoring the handling and monitoring the usage of used cooking oil. According to these regulations, it is prescribed that any cooking oil whether used or unused should not contain more than 25% of TPC (Total Polar Compounds). If it exceeds this set limit, the cooking oil ha to be deemed unsafe for consumption. The compliance of UCO standards is also being overlooked closely by FSSAI in partnership with BDAI and the food industry. FSSAI is leaving no stone unturned for this great idea for self-sufficiency of fuels in India by implementing an Education, Enforcement and, Ecosystem strategy to extract value from UCO and curb not only illegal but unsafe practices with which this cooking oil is handled. It is a great step towards ensuring safety, health, and welfare of the nation’s citizens and will help us a lot in the years to come.

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