In order to bring down the crude import bill by Rs 1 lakh crore, the government is planning to formulate policies on the second-generation ethanol as well as methanol, non-conventional fuel resources. Union road transport and highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that draft policies on the two fuels would be prepared by the oil ministry for approval of the Cabinet.
Gadkari has said that if second-generation ethanol can be produced from bamboo, cotton straw, wheat straw, rice straw and bagass etc, it could lead to creation of 25 lakh rural jobs mostly in villages. He also said that it was decided to take second generation ethanol production on mission mode as India accounted for a huge Rs 6 lakh crore imports bill on crude per annum and exploring and generating indigenous alternative would cut crude imports by at least Rs 1 lakh crore. He noted that at present ethanol is derived from molasses, which is barely 119 crore litres as against a minimum requirement of about 500 crore litres.
The minister said that they get hardly 3% ethanol whereas they can mix 22% in petrol, therefore there is a shortage of 19%. He said the biofuel was not only cost-effective but a pollution free import substitute. The Minister said that in countries like the US and Brazil, there are flex engines of cars where 22% ethanol could be easily blended in petrol. The transport minister further said that in view of surplus cola production it has been decided to promote methanol output and oil Ministry will also bring a policy for production of methanol from coal. He said that as many as 150 petroleum products could be made from coal.
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