Energetica India | Petroleum Minister Highlights Domestic Production of Biofuels at Global CBG Conference

Apr 19,2023

Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the need for domestic production of biofuels while addressing the Global Conference on Compressed Biogas (CBG) in New Delhi. The two-day conference was organised on April 17 and 18 by the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE). 

 The minister said that the government has advanced its target to achieve 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to 2025-26.

Talking about the need for alternative fuels, the minister said it will play a pivotal role in achieving a reduction in the import of fossil fuels and ultimately help to achieve the target of net zero emission. 
 
“Considering the limited domestic availability of fossil fuels and import dependence for this, the energy security of the country will remain vulnerable until alternative fuels to substitute/supplement fossil fuels are developed based on indigenously sustainable renewable feedstock,” he added.
 
The minister said that the production of CBG would have multiple benefits such as a reduction of natural gas imports, reduction of GHG emissions, reduction in the burning of agriculture residues, effective waste management, etc. 
 
“Government of India has set a target to increase the share of gas in the energy mix up to 15 percent in 2030 to make India a gas-based economy. Presently, we are importing around 50 percent of our requirement of natural gas. The speedy expansion of CBG will help in meeting our additional requirement from domestic resources,” he said, adding, “Under SATAT initiative various waste streams such as animal dung, agricultural residues, MSW (Municipal Solid Waste), sewage water and industrial wastes such as press mud, spent wash from the sugar industry, food processing industry, etc. is being looked into as feedstock for the production of biogas/CBG.”
 
India has the target to set up 5,000 commercial plants by 2024-25 and produce 15 MMT of CBG would replace other gaseous fuels. It had commissioned 46 compressed biogas plants under SATAT Scheme and there were 100 outlets currently dispensing the compressed biogas across the country.
 
He stressed the need for generating renewable, sustainable and indigenous energy sources that can supplement other conventional energy sources in the short term and take over as the primary source of energy in long run.