Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: BiofuelCircle has proposed purchasing used cooking oil at ₹42 per kg in Goa as part of a plan to establish an organised collection network for hotels, restaurants, casinos and other food establishments. The initiative aims to ensure that discarded cooking oil is channelled through authorised routes instead of being diverted for unauthorised reuse.
The proposal has been submitted to the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) amid concerns raised by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) about the possible diversion of used cooking oil into unregulated markets. Such practices could pose food-safety risks if waste oil is reused for cooking.
BiofuelCircle has recommended appointing a single authorised agency to manage the collection and trading of used cooking oil across the state. The proposed system would be supported by a digital platform connecting food businesses, registered collectors and biodiesel producers, with transactions tracked online.
The company has suggested a pricing formula linked to the prevailing high-speed diesel price in Goa. The calculation would account for biodiesel pricing and deductions towards collection, aggregation, testing, storage, transportation and processing costs. According to the proposal, a transparent pricing mechanism could encourage more establishments to hand over used oil through authorised channels.
The FDA has called for stronger safeguards to prevent the unauthorised diversion of used cooking oil. Its recommendations include a standardised price structure, compulsory registration of collectors and their agents, online monitoring of collections, penalties for violations and incentives for food businesses that comply with the system.
The proposed initiative is linked to the National Biofuel Policy, 2018, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) programme, which encourages the safe collection and conversion of used cooking oil into biodiesel.
BiofuelCircle has highlighted the potential of an organised collection network to improve waste management, promote biodiesel production and support alternative fuel use. However, the proposed rate of ₹42 per kg and the single-agency model are subject to consideration by GEDA and the relevant authorities.
