Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha informed on Monday about biofuels production in India.
As per National Policy on Biofuels- 2018, to promote the production of biofuels in the country by units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs), import of feedstock for production of biofuels meant for export by them, is allowed without any restriction.
Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics have informed that during Financial Year 2022-23 approx. 3520064 Kg of biodiesel and mixture under Indian Trade Classification – based on Harmonized System (ITC-HS) codes 38260000 have been exported.
He said, “Under the interest subvention scheme of Department of Food and Public Distribution, an amount of Rs. 119.90 crore have been released to 36 projects from the state of Karnataka for an estimated ethanol capacity creation of about 144 crore litres per annum.”
The detailed report on the ‘Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25’provides guidance to achieve the target of 20% ethanol blending in India by 2025-26. The target of 10% ethanol blending set in the aforesaid roadmap for Ethanol Supply Year 2021-22 has been achieved.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas vide notification dated 30.04.2019 has issued “Guidelines for sale of Biodiesel for blending with high speed diesel for transportation purposes-2019”. As per clause ‘x’ of these Guidelines, the State/UT Government authorities shall have the power to carry out regular inspections of the retail outlets selling biodiesel to ensure that the biodiesel is being made available to the customers in the right quality and quantity.
The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has also written to all the Chief Secretaries and Administrators of the States and UTs to look into the matter of sale of unauthorized product in the name of biodiesel and issue necessary directions to curb this menace. Government has directed Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies to sell blended biofuels as per provide BIS Specifications.
(Source: PIB)
