The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organized the 3rd International Conference on World Biofuel Day 2024 as part of its Bio-initiative, with the theme “The Biofuel Revolution in India: Fueling Tomorrow.” The conference examined the significance of biofuels in India’s transition to sustainable energy and their wider implications for the automotive industry.
At the Conference, Mandava Prabhakar Rao, President, Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), said, “Sugarcane is the most efficient crop in terms of water and land utilisation. The percentage of Sugarcane that’s being converted to ethanol is only 15%, but if the share is increased by 10%, the Indian sugarcane industry will be able to shoulder the responsibility of 55% of the country’s ethanol demand.”
Rohit Mathur, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, remarked, “We anticipate substantial advancements in the next five years as we promote biofuels and make full use of domestic resources. The ethanol programme is aiding farmers, saving foreign exchange, and enhancing the ecosystem. We encourage investment in advanced biofuels to increase ethanol production and highlight the importance of a widespread awareness campaign to educate the public about flex-fuel and ethanol percentages.”
Sujoy Choudhury, Director at Indian Oil Corporation, emphasized the importance of equitable and sustainable biofuel growth in India. He noted, “Oil manufacturing companies have expanded their storage capacity tenfold to support the biofuel transition. Today, ethanol is transported via pipelines, railways, and roadways.”
