Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, reaffirmed the Indian government’s commitment to biofuels at the 12th CII Bioenergy Summit 2024, held today in New Delhi. The theme for this year’s summit was “Fuelling the Future – Securing India’s Green Growth Goals.” This event gathered experts and leaders to discuss how India can move towards cleaner energy sources and reduce pollution.
Success of Ethanol Blending in India
During his speech, Shri Gadkari shared exciting news about ethanol blending in India. He mentioned that the amount of ethanol mixed with petrol has increased significantly from just 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024. The goal is to reach 20% by 2025. The government is also researching the possibility of blending 15% ethanol in diesel to further cut down on the use of fossil fuels.
Creating an Ethanol Ecosystem
To support this growth, the government is creating an ethanol ecosystem. Shri Gadkari announced plans for 400 ethanol pumps to be set up by the Indian Oil Corporation in four states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Ongoing discussions with major car manufacturers are expected to lead to the introduction of flex-engine cars that run on ethanol. Similarly, well-known motorcycle brands are preparing to launch ethanol-powered bikes once the necessary infrastructure is in place. “We are fast-tracking efforts to increase ethanol production and distribution in these four key states,” he said.
Waste-to-Energy Technologies
Shri Gadkari also highlighted the importance of waste-to-energy technologies, especially in creating bio-CNG from rice straw. There are currently 475 projects in progress, with over 40 already operational in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh. The conversion of rice straw into CNG is quite efficient, with a conversion ratio of about 5:1 in tonnes. He urged for more research into effective biomass sources and affordable transportation methods for biomass.
Tackling Stubble Burning
The minister addressed the serious problem of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. He praised Indian Oil’s Panipat plant, which is turning agricultural waste into biomass. “Right now, we can process one-fifth of the agricultural waste, but with better planning, we can greatly reduce the air pollution caused by stubble burning,” he said.
Reducing Dependence on Imported Bitumen
Another important point raised by Shri Gadkari was the research being done by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) on producing bio-bitumen. This innovation could help India rely less on imported bitumen, adding another layer to the country’s green growth plans.
Urgency of Biofuels for Energy Self-Reliance
Shri Gadkari stressed the urgency of cutting down India’s annual fossil fuel imports, which amount to around ₹22 lakh crore. He said that biofuels are essential for India’s energy independence. They can also improve the agricultural economy and support the livelihoods of farmers.
Empowering Farmers
In his closing remarks, he emphasized how the biofuel sector could transform farmers’ roles. Instead of just being “Annadata” (food-givers), they could become “Urjadata” (energy-givers), “Indhandata” (fuel-givers), and even “Hydrogen-Data” (Hydrogen-givers). He congratulated the CII for organizing the summit and for pushing these important discussions forward.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
Follow Us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, & LinkedIn
