The Union Cabinet on Wednesday has approved the amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels -2018, notified by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2018. The main amendment is for advancing the target of blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol i.e. 20% of ethanol and 80% of petrol to 2025-26 from 2030, the government said in a release. Currently, about 10 percent of ethanol is blended in petrol.
Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister @narendramodi approved amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels -2018.
The ethanol blending target of 20% advanced to ESY 2025-26 from 2030. This will foster the development of indigenous technologies and thereby generate more employment.
— PB-SHABD (@PBSHABD) May 18, 2022
Besides, more feedstocks for the production of biofuels will be allowed. The government also said that the amendments will promote the production of biofuels in the country, under the Make in India, by units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) or Export Oriented Units (EoUs).
The amendments will also grant permission for the export of biofuels in specific cases and delete or amend certain phrases in the Policy in line with decisions taken during the meetings of the National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC).
“This proposal will also attract and foster developments of indigenous technologies which will pave the way for Make in India drive and thereby generate more employment,” the government said.
“This amendment proposal will pave the way for Make in India drive thereby leading to reduction in import of petroleum products by generation of more and more biofuels.”
“Since many more feedstocks are being allowed for production of biofuels, this will promote the Atmanirbhar Bharat and give an impetus to Prime Minister’s vision of India becoming ‘energy independent’ by 2047,” it added.
PM Modi tweeted. “Amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels, which have been approved by the Cabinet will encourage research in developing indigenous technologies, boost ‘Make in India’ and create employment opportunities.”
Amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels, which have been approved by the Cabinet will encourage research in developing indigenous technologies, boost ‘Make in India’ and create employment opportunities. https://t.co/N9aRqrVRNn
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 18, 2022
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh took it to twitter, “#Cabinet under PM Sh @NarendraModi approves Amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels -2018. This proposal will attract and foster developments of indigenous technologies which will pave the way for #MakeInIndia drive and thereby generate more employment. #CabinetDecisions”