India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the Global Biofuel Alliance to boost the use of biofuels. India also invited G20 nations to join the initiative with a plea to take ethanol blending with petrol globally to 20 per cent.
PM Modi said in his remarks to leaders from the Group of 20 major economies at the summit, “We are launching the Global Biofuel Alliance. India invites all of you to join this initiative.”
“Today, the need of the hour is that all countries should work together in the field of fuel blending. Our proposal is to take an initiative at a global-level to take ethanol blending in petrol up to 20 per cent,” he added.
The alliance aims to boost demand and technology transfer for the production of biofuels and to enhance trade. It is seen as a way for India to cut its import dependence on fuel and to reduce its carbon emissions.
The alliance, which is being conceptualized by India, will have the United States and Brazil as its founding members.
India has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2070 and has an ambitious biofuel roadmap. The government has advanced its target to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26 from an earlier target of 2030. The target of petrol supplies with 10% ethanol blending was achieved in June last year, ahead of the original schedule of November 2022.
