To cut India’s increasing and large crude oil import bills and to create additional sources of income for the farmers, Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari is pitching for alternative fuels.
“Alternative fuels are cleaner and cheaper. The use of ethanol, methanol, bio-compressed natural gas, dimethyl ether, and electricity should be increased as alternatives to crude oil, 70 percent of which has to be imported.”, he said recently addressing the situation.
With rising concerns for the environment, many nations are switching to cleaner fuels and alternative sources which allow them to produce the maximum output while being cost-efficient. As most of the fuel used currently are environmentally degrading such steps are being considered by several governments.
“The benefit of these alternative fuels is that its raw material is available in the country and can be sourced in large quantities from the agricultural sector. It will help farmers increase their income too,” Gadkari said.
Speaking about the financial strain crude oil imports place on the country, Gadkari said: “We spend Rs 7 lakh crore annually to import crude oil. The economy is facing challenges – one of which is the heavy crude import bill. The fall in the value of rupee against US dollar is also related to this.”
He said increasing production of oil within the country has its limitations, adding that imports comprise 70 percent of crude oil demands while domestic generation stood at only 30 percent. Listing his plans to increase the production of ethanol, Gadkari said the government has decided to make ethanol from cotton straws, rice, bamboo and municipal waste.
“Once we remove metal, glass, and plastic, the rest is biomass, which can be used for ethanol. We have made a policy for it as well,” he said, adding that one of the reasons for Delhi’s air pollution was the burning of straw by farmers. Once we start making ethanol out of it, no farmer will burn it. And this will decrease air pollution as well,” he said.
These alternative fuels, he said, were cleaner and would also bring savings to people.