The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry is gearing up to move towards second generation ethanol from agriculture waste.
Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State – Independent Charge, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the country is moving heavily towards ethanol blended fuel, although for the present, it is committed to procuring from sugar industries.
“Nevertheless, we are also contemplating second generation ethanol from agriculture waste, ethanol from rice straw, from different biodiversity, through chemical processes and using alternative technology.
“Incidentally, towards this move, we laid the foundation for one such plant in Punjab on December 25. We are planning 11 more such pilot plants in different parts of the country, including one in Tamil Nadu,” he said in reply to a query.
The Punjab project is expected to become operational in two years, he said without further elaboration.
“This will help tide over the deficit in ethanol supply from the sugar industry. We can blend up to 10 per cent, but the supply of ethanol from sugar mills is just 5–6 per cent of the requirement,” he said.