The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the 2018 Biofuels National Policy Amendments.”National Policy on Biofuels – 2018″ was announced by the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 04.06.2018 in place of the National Biomedical Policy, announced by the Department of Energy & Renewable Energy, 2009.As a result of advances in the Biofuels sector, various decisions taken at National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) meetings to increase biofuel production, the recommendation of the Standing Committee and the decision to proceed with the introduction of Ethanol Blended Petrol by ethanol up to 20 percent everywhere. with effect from 01.04.2023, amendments were made to the National Biofuels Policy.
The following are the main amendments to the Biofuels National Policy:
i. allowing more food to produce biofuels,
ii. to develop a 20% ethanol blending target for ethanol blending in gasoline at ESY 2025-26 from 2030,
iii. to promote energy generation in the country, under the Make in India program, through units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) / Export Oriented Units (EoUs),
iv. adding new members to the NBCC.
v. to authorize the export of biofuels in certain circumstances, as well
vi. to remove / amend certain clauses in the Policy in accordance with decisions taken during meetings of the National Biofuel Coordinating Committee.
This proposal will also attract and encourage the development of traditional technologies that will pave the way for Make in India drive and thus generate more jobs. The existing Biofuels National Policy emerged in mid-2018. This amendment proposal will pave the way for Make in India drive thus leading to a reduction in the import of petroleum products through the production of too much fuel. As more livestock is allowed to produce biofuels, this will enhance Atmanirbhar Bharat and give impetus to the Prime Minister’s vision of India becoming ‘independent’ by 2047.
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