Lok Sabha Question No. 208 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-01
Subject: Blending of Bio-Fuel and Bio-Ethanol
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUSHAWAHA, RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.208 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  AUGUST, 2016

## BLENDING OF BIO-FUEL AND BIO-ETHANOL

## *208.  SHRI RAVINDER KUSHAWAHA: SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY:

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=h

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to carry out the production of bio-ethanol using bamboo and if so, the details thereof along with expenditure incurred thereon;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to prepare a roadmap to accelerate the implementation of Bio-fuel programme in the country and has constituted a working  group  for  creating  synergy  between  various  Ministries,  develop awareness and conduct programmes for the purpose and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  new  initiatives  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  for  effective implementation of blending and marketing of Bio-diesel and Bio-ethanol and to convert urban solid and plastic/agricultural wastes into fuels and if so, the progress made in this regard?

## ANSWER

isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Lora= izHkkj½ ¼Jh /kesZUnz iz/kku½

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (c) :  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  Part  (a)  to  (c)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Starred Question No. 208 to be answered on 01.08.2016 regarding 'Blending of BioFuel  and  Bio-Ethanol'  by  Shri  Ravinder  Kushawaha  and  Shri  Ram  Tahal Choudhary

(a):      Numaligarh  Refinery  Limited  (NRL)  has  completed  the  Detailed  Feasibility Report (DFR) for a project to set up a bio-refinery for production of 49 TMT of bioethanol per annum from bamboo, in collaboration with M/s Chempolis Oy, Finland, at a project cost of Rs. 950 crores.

(b)   A Working Group has been constituted to inter-alia achieve coordination with bio-diesel and ethanol industry, other Ministries and bulk users. The Working Group is also entrusted with the task of conducting road shows, workshops, seminars and other such awareness programmes to popularize and increase bio-fuel consumption  in  coordination  with  Petroleum  Conservation  Research  Association (PCRA).

(c) In order to improve the availability of ethanol, the Government on 10.12.2014 has, inter-alia, decided to fix the delivered price of ethanol in the range of Rs.48.50 per litre  to  49.50  per litre.    Procurement of ethanol produced from other non-food feedstock besides molasses, like cellulosic and ligno cellulosic materials including petrochemical route, subject to meeting the relevant BIS Standards, has also been opened.

The  Government  has  also  allowed  the  sale  of  Bio-diesel  (B100)  by  private manufacturers to bulk consumers like Railways, State Transport Corporations and other  bulk  consumers.  Retailing  of  bio-diesel  blended  diesel  by  Public  Sector  Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has been started on 10.8.2015.

Public  Sector  OMCs  have  also  been  asked  to  explore  the  possibility  of commercial  production  of  ethanol  from  lignocelluloses  feedstock  like  agricultural waste.    Some  of  the  Oil  PSUs  have  issued  Letter  of  Intent  (LOIs)  for  setting  up plants to convert urban solid / plastic waste to fuel.

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