Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has dismissed concerns about biofuels leading to food insecurity, asserting that ethanol can be derived from a diverse range of sources, reported Economic Times.
Speaking at the Energy Transition Dialogue 2023, Puri highlighted that the current biofuel market stands at approximately $92 billion and is projected to reach $162 billion within two years. However, he anticipates the potential for this market to expand to a staggering $500 billion.
Puri emphasized that India’s requirement for about 1,000 crore liters of ethanol to achieve a 20% blending in fuel is attainable, given that the country already produces 600 crore liters of ethanol. He illustrated this by referencing the production of ethanol from agricultural waste in Panipat, underscoring the role of ethanol as a supportive component of the agricultural economy.
The Minister also noted that India is presently blending petrol with 12% ethanol. He remarked that the question is no longer whether the country will reach the 20% blending target by 2025, but rather whether it can surpass this goal.
Shifting focus to green hydrogen, Puri expressed optimism in its potential as the fuel of the future and its prospects for success in India. He underlined that green hydrogen will thrive in areas where there is proximity between consumption and production hubs.
