The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) hosted the 3rd International Conference on World Biofuel Day 2024 under its Bio-initiative, themed “The Biofuel Revolution in India: Fueling Tomorrow.” The event explored the role of biofuels in India’s shift toward sustainable energy and their broader impact on the auto sector.
Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Kenneth Félix Haczynski da Nóbrega, was the Chief Guest. In his address, he stated,” Driven by our shared vision for a sustainable future, Brazil’s ethanol expertise and India’s progress in decarbonization align with our goal of 20-25% biofuel use. The Collaboration between India and Brazil sets a global example in the energy transition, emphasizing inclusivity and cost-effective bioenergy solutions. Major investments and technology transfers between our nations will be key to advancing sustainable mobility and achieving long-term climate goals.”
Rohit Mathur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India added,“We are poised to see significant progress in the next five years as we advance biofuels and fully utilize domestic resources. The ethanol program is benefiting farmers, saving foreign exchange, and transforming the ecosystem. We urge investment in advanced biofuels to further boost ethanol production and emphasize the need for a mass awareness campaign to educate the public on flex-fuel and ethanol percentages.”
KC Sharma, Chief Engineer (MVL) at the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Guest of Honour at the conference explained that “Achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 is a national commitment with biofuels being crucial to this goal. We have increased ethanol blending from 1.4% in 2013-14 to nearly 20% today, thanks to the collaborative efforts of fuel providers, vehicle manufacturers, and component suppliers. We are advancing towards testing new bio-ethanol solutions with prototypes already on Indian roads.”
Sujoy Choudhury, Director at Indian Oil Corporation highlighted how India needs to ensure biofuel growth is equitable and sustainable, “Oil manufacturing companies have increased their tankage by tenfold to support the biofuel journey. Today, Ethanol moves through various modes of transport including pipelines, railways, and roadways.”
Mandava Prabhakar Rao, President of the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said, “Sugarcane is the most efficient crop in terms of water and land utilization. Currently, only 15% of sugarcane is converted to ethanol, but increasing this by 10% only would allow the Indian sugarcane industry to meet 55% of the country’s ethanol demand”.
In his closing remarks, Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM remarked, “The inaugural session has highlighted India’s significant achievements in the biofuel sector and brought attention to the need for collaborative efforts for future advancements in biofuel. We must build on this foundation and drive the mobility sector towards a sustainable and impactful future”.
