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"Emerging scene for development of Bio-Fuels" |
In the meeting of Energy Think Tank held at PetroFed on July 18, 2008. Shri N.R. Raje, former Director (R&D), IOCL and Shri Jai Uppal, Sr. Advisor, UPES presented an update on the need for giving a boost to bio-fuels in India.
The following key points emerged in the presentations and discussions that followed:
- With rising crude oil prices, bio-fuels require much greater importance for meeting global energy needs.
- Literature shows that bio-fuel energy balance is positive. Bio-fuels are expected to grow @ 10-12% in the medium term.
- Although at present first generation bio-fuels are playing a major role but in the near future it is expected that advance next generation bio-fuel will play an increasing important role.
- Whereas many countries like US, Europe, Brazil, China etc have their bio-fuel policies and targets. India’s bio-fuels policy is under formulation.
- India has identified non-edible oil seeds such as Jatropha and Karanjia as feed stock for producing bio diesel using waste land / marginal land.
- Many issues related to waste land identification and allocation need to be addressed by the State Governments.
- Issues such as seed certification and product testing need to be addressed.
- Availability of feed stocks at competitive prices.
- Since bio-fuels industry is in its infancy, it requires incentives for growth, as has been the case in other countries with successful bio-fuel programme.
The oil and gas companies should invest / support R&D activities in the area of 2nd generation feed stocks and bio-fuels with attractive incentives from the Govt.
- 5% ethanol blending has proved to be feasible in India and 10% ethanol blending has been envisaged.
- BIS standard for 10% ethanol blending has been formulated.
- It was mentioned that the national policy on bio-fuel is expected to be announced shortly.
- The bio-fuel policy should ensure a win-win situation for the producer, the purchaser and the user of bio-fuels. Since the bio-fuels industry is in its infancy and projected to grow, it would need to be incentivised. This has been the experience of other countries where the bio-fuels industry has made progress.
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Shri N R Raje making his presentation
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Presentation. |
in progress |
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Seated (L-R) Dr I B Gulathi,member ETT, Shri T N Rao (Former sec PNG and Chairman ETT), Shri J S Oberoi, convenor ETT, Shri M A Pathan, member ETT
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Seated (L-R) Dr C R Prasad, Shri J L Zutshi, Shri S K Manglik, members ETT, Shri S. L. Das, Dir(BD&C) PteroFed, Shri S C Mathur and Shri B K Bakshi - members ETT.
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Shri Jai Uppal, making his presentation.
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ETT members absorbed in the presentation.
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ETT members absorbed in the presentation.
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Seated (L-R) Shri S C Mathur, Shri B K Bakshi, Shri P P Baghi - members ETT
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Seated (L-R) Shri A K Arora, DG PetroFed, Shri B D Gupta, Dr I B Gulathi --members ETT
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Seated (L-R) Shri B C Bora, member ETT, Shri Jai Uppal, Sr. Advisor, Center for Alternate Energy Research, and Shri N R Raje, Director, Center for Alternate Energy Research
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