The Hindu Business Line : Meet on ethanol on Sept 26

Apitco Ltd is organising a national conference on `Prospects of Ethanol - A Sustainable Bio-fuel' on September 26 to showcase the potential for bio-fuels as alternate fuel for transportation; disseminate the latest information on technical, environmental, financial as well as policy issues including the role of Government.

Considering the recent hike in world oil prices coupled with ever-growing demand for oil, according to the Apitco Managing Director, Mr S. Srinivasa Rao, blending of ethanol & bio-diesel must be explored more seriously as a long-term alternative fuel option. Accordingly, viable strategies need to be formulated and implemented so that environmental, economic and social benefits are reaped.

In a press release, he stated that in India, the demand for petroleum would be doubled over the next decade, which meant higher demand for ethanol to be used in blending with petrol and diesel. Opportunity for bio-diesel was also tremendous, which needed to be explored seriously to reduce the consumption of conventional fuels. Bio-diesel could be extracted from tree borne oil seeds such as Jatropha, Pongamia and Karanja and could be mixed with conventional diesel oil. India has vast tract of degraded lands, mostly in areas with adverse agro-climatic condition, where hardy tree borne-oilseeds species such as Jatropha, Karanja, Mahua, Ratnajoth, Neem, Kusum, Pilu, Tumba, Sal, Kokum, Jojoba and Chullu could be grown easily.

Stating that fuel ethanol production worldwide had reached historic levels, Mr Rao said that bio-fuels would reduce harmful air pollution and dependence on oil import. The report submitted by the Planning Commission had estimated that if the country progressively moved towards using ethanol as a substitute for gasoline & bio-diesel for petrol and diesel, as much as Rs 830 crore in foreign exchange could be saved annually.

Bio-fuels would also provide consumers with energy diversification and added fuel choice. Since bio-fuels were produced form biomass such as sugarcane, molasses, sweet sorghum, grains and oil seeds, their wide spread use in the US, Europe, Brazil and China had led to higher biomass yield, rural employment and growth in industry.

The present strategy worldwide was to opt for cleaner fuels, which are renewable as well as environment-friendly, he added.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Award for ICSI (Madurai) unit

More World Bank funds likely for infrastructure, social schemes

CM launches Marina Beach beautification

`Tap potential of sub-Saharan Africa market'

Bengal keen on availing aid from overseas institutions

Jaitley, Shourie to discuss SC ruling on oil PSUs

GE, Bechtel file $1.2-b claim against Govt

Attorney General's views sought

Chhattisgarh to have steel plant

Net direct tax collections up 4 pc in Apr-Sept