First such tie-up between a sugar and a petroleum company.
Shree Renuka Sugars is looking to set up an integrated sugar-cum-ethanol plant with oil marketing company Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) in Maharashtra.
This report from the Biofuels task force of the World Energy Council reviews the debate between supporters and opponents of Biofuels, against the backdrop of rapidly increasing energy demand. Skyrocketing prices of crude oil in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century accompanied by rising prices for food focused political and public attention on the role of biofuels.
Large-scale production of crop based (first generation) biofuels may not be feasible without adversely affecting
global food supply or encroaching on other important land uses.
The government today gave its formal approval to the introduction of five per cent ethanol-blending in petrol, at a price of Rs27 per litre for ethanol.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared the proposal for implementation of the ethanol programme in all states except Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and northeastern states.
NEW DELHI: After months of deliberations, the Union Cabinet on Monday decided to fix an interim price of Rs.27 for a litre of sugarcane-extracted ethanol for blending with petrol.
However, the final price will be set on the recommendations of a committee of experts.
Oil marketing companies (OMCs) will float tenders for ethanol procurement at Rs 27 per litre for a mandatory five per cent blending with petrol, once the Centre issues a notification in this regard.
There is rising skepticism about the potential positive environmental impacts of first generation biofuels. Growing biofuel crops could induce diversion of other crops dedicated to food and feed needs. The relocation of production could increase deforestation and bring significant new volumes of carbon into the atmosphere.
