Nitin Gadkari Discusses Ethanol and Biofuel Advancements at CII Bioenergy Summit 2024
In New Delhi, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, spoke at the 12th CII Bioenergy Summit 2024 about India’s progress in ethanol blending and biofuel development. The government is advancing research on blending 15% ethanol in diesel and aims to reach 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025. Ethanol blending has increased from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024.
Gadkari announced plans for 400 ethanol pump stations by Indian Oil and meetings with automakers like Suzuki, Tata, and Toyota to launch flex-engine cars. Companies like TVS, Bajaj, and Honda are ready to introduce ethanol bikes once pumps are available. Efforts are focused on Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
On CNG, Gadkari mentioned over 475 projects in the pipeline, with 40 already started, using rice straw for conversion. He emphasized the need for efficient biomass sources and technologies to convert municipal waste into bio-CNG. A pilot project is underway to address air pollution from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.
Gadkari highlighted the importance of biofuels for reducing India’s fossil fuel import bill and boosting the agricultural economy. He envisions farmers becoming energy providers, contributing more significantly to the GDP.
Doubts Revealed
Nitin Gadkari -: Nitin Gadkari is an Indian politician who is the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. He works on improving roads and transportation in India.
Ethanol -: Ethanol is a type of alcohol that can be used as fuel for vehicles. It is made from plants like sugarcane and corn.
Biofuel -: Biofuel is a type of energy made from plants or animal waste. It is used as an alternative to fossil fuels like petrol and diesel.
CII Bioenergy Summit -: CII Bioenergy Summit is a meeting organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to discuss energy made from biological sources like plants.
Ethanol blending -: Ethanol blending is the process of mixing ethanol with petrol to make fuel for vehicles. This helps reduce pollution and reliance on fossil fuels.
Flex-engine vehicles -: Flex-engine vehicles are cars that can run on more than one type of fuel, like petrol and ethanol. This gives people more options for fueling their cars.
Fossil fuel imports -: Fossil fuel imports are when a country buys oil, coal, or gas from other countries. Reducing imports can save money and help the environment.
Agricultural economy -: The agricultural economy is the part of the economy that deals with farming and growing crops. It is important for providing food and jobs.
