Ministry of Petroleum
and Natural gas celebrated the World Biofuel Day 2017 today.
Minister of State (I/C)
for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that the objective
of “World Biofuel Day” is to sensitize youths (school and college going
students), farmers and other stakeholders about the benefits of biofuel and
seek their involvement in Biofuel programme run by the Government. These
efforts should be take up on a public campaign mode, he added.
Highlighting the
various efforts made by the Government in the BioFuel sector, Shri Pradhan said
that The World BioFuel Day will be celebrated across 100 districts of the
country in various states to create awareness about the bio fuel programme.
These awareness campaigns are scheduled to be held between 11th to 14th August
2017 in partnership with stakeholders of the Bioenergy sector.
The Minister
highlighted that the energy needs for transportation and Domestic use in the
country requires for 80 percent import of crude. Hon’ble Prime Minister has
given a task to cut down the crude import by 10% by 2022. Shri Pradhan said
that a roadmap on the use of biofuels will help in achieving this target.
Promoting biofuels creates jobs, fosters economic growth, supports farmers and
helps improve energy Security for country.
Shri Pradhan said that
the Ministry will be coming out with the BioFuel Policy soon. The policy will
taken into consideration various facets like Role of Government, Return on
investment, Minimum Assurance etc. Recently Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas has been made responsible for BioFuel Policy. The Minister said that both
the Ministry of New and renewable energy and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas will be working towards more utilisation of biofuels.
Shri Pradhan said that
approx $2 Billion is being invested by the Government Companies by way of
R&D on Second Generation (2G) Biofuel Refineries across the country. Ways
are being explored on conversion of urban, rural waste to fuel; use of
waste/barren lands for cultivation of feedstock for 2G biofuels. The Minister
said that the potential for the bio fuel industry in India would be around Rs 1
Lakh Crore in the next 1 to 2 years.
The Minister of Road
Transport & Highways and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari stressed upon the
importance of biofuels as cost effective and environment friendly substitutes
to conventional fuels. He said that besides bringing down pollution, biofuels
produced indigenously from agricultural waste, plants like bamboo, non-edible
oilseeds, or municipal waste will help reduce the country’s huge import
burden. In addition , it will also generate employment and boost the economy
of rural areas, including the North East and the barren wastelands of the
country. In this context, Shri Gadkari said, a Biofuel Policy will be a major
milestone in the socio-economic development of the country .
Shri Gadkari also
announced that he would ask the Finance Minister to reduce the GST on
bio-diesel from the current 18 percent to 5 percent.
Talking about the
transport sector the Minister said that the automobile growth in the country is
an unsustainable 22 percent. So efforts are on in a big way to promote public
transport based on cheaper and greener biofuels and electricity . India has brought
in the necessary regulations for flexi engines. Nagpur city is running 55
buses on 100 percent bio ethanol and another 50 on Bio CNG derived from
methane from sewage water. This is in addition to a 200 strong fleet of
electric taxis and autos. The shipping and inland waterways sectors too are
gearing up for running ships and barges on methanol.
*****
RG
