Lok Sabha Question No. 3224 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-09
Subject: Production of Ethanol
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Mahesh Sahoo, Pratima Bhoumik, Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Ajay Nishad

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3224 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 th  December, 2019

## Production of Ethanol

3224.  SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL: SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE: SHRI MAHESH SAHOO: MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK: SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH: SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

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Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether ethanol and bio-diesel like alternative fuels have many specialities vis-avis  conventional  fuels,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  percentage  of  the production  of  bio-diesel  in  comparison  to  its  total  consumption  in  the  country  at present;
- (b) the steps taken to encourage farmers to contribute in producing more ethanol and whether  the  Ministry  has  approached  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers Welfare  &  State  Governments  to  increase  cultivation  of  bio-fuel  crops,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  steps  to  encourage  community participation and entrepreneurship through better participation of local institutes in the process of the development of biodiesel, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether  the Government  proposes  to  constitute  any National  Bio-Diesel Development Board, if so, the details thereof along with the initiatives, research and development and other measures taken by the Government for large scale production and promotion of bio-diesel?

## ANSWER

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## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

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- (a): Biofuels  are  derived  from  renewable  biomass  resources  and  wastes  such  as Used  Cooking  Oil,  Plastic,  Municipal  Solid  Waste,  waste  gases,  etc.  and  provide higher degree  of national energy  security in an environmentally  friendly  and sustainable manner  by supplementing conventional energy resources, reducing

dependence on imported fossil fuels and meet the energy needs of India's urban and vast rural population. Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are procuring biodiesel for the biodiesel blending program since August 2015 and during Apr 19 - Oct 19, 8.62 crore litres of biodiesel have been procured by the OMCs.

(b): Ethanol  is  produced  by  distilleries  from  various  feed  stocks.  In  order  to encourage production of ethanol, the Government has announced remunerative prices for manufacture of ethanol depending on the feed stocks.

(c): Government of India has notified the National Policy on Biofuels-2018, which inter  alia envisages  a  crucial  role  for  Village  Panchayats  and  communities  in augmenting indigenous feedstock supplies for biofuel production. The Policy has also envisioned  plantation  of  non  edible  oil  seeds  bearing  trees  and  crops  for  feedstock generation  from  wasteland  through  local  communities  under  Gram  Panchayats  and Talukas. Farmers are encouraged to grow variety of different biomass as well as oil seeds on their marginal lands, as inter crop and as second crop wherever only one crop is raised by them under rain fed conditions.

(d): As  per  National  Policy  on  Biofuels-2018,  this  Ministry  has  constituted  a National  Biofuel  Coordination  Committee  (NBCC),  under  the  Chairmanship  of Minister, P&NG to provide overall coordination, effective end-to-end implementation and monitoring of biofuel programme. In addition, a Working Group has also been set up by this Ministry consisting eminent and technical experts in the field of biofuels to monitor the implementation of biofuel programme.

National Policy on Biofuels-2018 has inter alia envisaged production of biodiesel from  Used  Cooking  Oil  (UCO).  In  order  to  encourage  large  scale  production  of biodiesel  from  UCO,  OMCs have floated Expression of  Interest for procurement of biodiesel produced from UCO from 200 locations across the country.

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