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NEED FOR SUPPORT SOURCING STRATEGY

Honda Motor calls for lower bioethanol prices India needs to counter China’s informal restrictions

to fuel wider adoption on export of crucial minerals: GTRI

India has the advantage of achieving could be taken up to increase the use Rs. 95 per litre to Rs. 65 per litre just India needs to counter China’s Companies based in India have re- tariffs and tightening export controls,
carbon neutrality through bioethanol of bioethanol, he said, “The govern- to bring down the vehicle running informal restrictions on supply of critical ported facing diffi culties in sourcing China’s retaliatory actions are likely
and renewable energy-based electrifi - ment should create a mechanism to cost.” He noted that OEMs would also inputs crucial for the electronics, equipment, components and skilled to intensify. This could include further
cation but the government needs to cre- make fuel pricing more affordable and need to improve the vehicle mileage solar, and EV sectors by diversifying its manpower from China, as per informa- expansion of export bans on critical
ate a mechanism to make prices of bio- maintain economic viability for users to achieve this. supply chains and sourcing more from tion shared by offi cials of the Informa- minerals, creating supply chain disrup-
ethanol fuel more affordable to make it through its policies.” At the same time, partners like Japan and Korea, research tion Technology ministry. tions and increasing costs for global
economically viable for users, accord- he said vehicle manufacturers should Mr. Ueda also pointed out that the body, Global Trade Research Initiative industries,” the report stated.
ing to Mr. Hiroya Ueda, Chief Engineer continue to take initiatives to improve promotion of ethanol fuel will have a has said. India must also act quickly While China has not offi cially an-
of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Speaking at fuel effi ciency. benefi cial impact on the farmers of to boost domestic manufacturing and nounced any restrictions on its exports Time to shift
auto industry body SIAM’s ‘3rd Inter- India, where agriculture is prevalent reduce its dependence on China, GTRI to India, the Indian industry is con- India needs to prepare for long-
national Symposium for Thriving Eco- “For the ethanol fuel to remain and the majority of the population is in said in a new report. cerned about the constraints it has been term solutions to reduce reliance on
Energy in Mobility’ event, Mr. Ueda economically viable the fuel cost per rural areas. facing in sourcing from the neighbour- Chinese imports by deepening its
said ethanol has an edge over existing km must be kept the same or lower “Key companies hit include Fox- ing country. China’s informal restric- domestic manufacturing, it said. This
fuels in terms of cutting carbon emis- compared to gasoline vehicles. To Asserting that in terms of the envi- conn, which makes iPhones in India tion on exports to India could be its can be achieved by lowering production
sions but the running cost is higher due achieve this, initiatives including re- ronmental benefi t, ethanol has an edge, and may face production delays. BYD, response to the curbs imposed by costs, improving ease of doing business,
to low fuel effi ciency. ducing tax on ethanol should be con- he said, “From a long-term perspective a major EV maker, and Lenovo, a lead- India on Chinese investments and visas, and encouraging local value addition.
sidered,” Mr. Ueda said. He further both fl ex-fuel vehicles and electric ing laptop brand, are also likely to be the report said, adding that it also
Stating that the running cost of fuel said, “One way could be to reduce vehicles will be required for India’s affected. Indian fi rms like Tata Elec- signalled deeper geopolitical tensions India must also strengthen partner-
will be an issue and few initiatives the price of E100 (ethanol 100) from carbon neutral commitment. tronics, which partners with Apple, and a looming trade war. ships with Japan and South Korea to
along with global suppliers like Pega- source high-quality components for
CAPACITY EXPANSION tron, Compal, and Jabil, will struggle “With the new Trump administra- electronics, solar panels, and EVs to

PCBL says its Rs. 3,700-crore capex plan on track with delayed deliveries of essential tion expected to take a more hawkish build more resilient supply chains, the
components,” the report pointed out.
approach toward China, imposing higher GTRI report added.
PCBL Chemical Ltd., formerly Currently, the company has an installed Aquapharm Chemicals by 38,000- LOCAL OPPOSITION
PCBL Ltd., said that its consolidated capacity of 7.7-lakh tonnes, making it mtpa will increase the current capacity
Rs. 3,700-crore capex plan remains the largest carbon black player in India. of 130,000-mtpa by almost 30 percent Govt. cancels auction of tungsten mineral block in Tamil Nadu
on track and expected improvement of by the end of FY25, the company in-
margins going forward with raw mate- The company’s expansion plans formed. Aquapharm was acquired by The government said it has can- importance of the biodiversity heritage Vedanta group fi rm Hindustan Zinc
rial prices getting stabilised. However, include speciality blacks expansion PCBL in 2023 for Rs. 3,800-crore. celled the auction of Tamil Nadu’s site in the area and the commitment Ltd. emerged as the preferred bidder in
the company reported a 23 percent of 20,000-mtpa at Mundra, which is Nayakkarpatti tungsten mineral block of the government towards protecting the auction of the block on November
YoY decline in standalone profi t after expected to be commissioned by The management expects margins which is near the Arittapatti Bio- traditional rights, it has been decided 7 last year. Since February, when the
tax (PAT) at Rs. 110.99-crore for the Q4FY25, increasing speciality blacks to improve with raw material prices diversity site and a number of cultural to annul the auction of Nayakkarpatti block was fi rst put to auction and till
October-December 2024 quarter. capacity to 1,12,000-mtpa in FY25. stabilising. Despite headwinds, PCBL heritage sites. Tungsten is a critical and tungsten mineral block,” the mines the declaration of result, “there was
anticipates steady volume growth with strategic mineral. The announcement ministry said in a statement. no communication from any quarter
The company’s plan includes ex- Capacity expansion at Pune-based new business and exports. came a day after representatives of local including state government regarding
pansion of its speciality blacks capa- Ambalakarars community from Madurai The mine covering over 20.16 sq km any opposition to the auction. Nor did
city, setting up of a new greenfi eld project MPL appoints Shivaram Narayanan as COO district met coal and mines minister area was proposed for the auction in the state government request the central
and focusing on emerging technologies Manali Petrochemicals Ltd. (MPL) Mr. Narayanan brings extensive in- Mr. G. Kishan Reddy and urged him to February last year. Inputs were taken government to drop the block from
for batteries, the management informed has announced the appointment of dustry experience to his new role. The cancel the sale of the block. from the government of Tamil Nadu auction,” the mines ministry said. This
investors. The company informed that Mr. Shivaram Narayanan as Chief appointment is effective from January before the block was put up for auction. block was auctioned as a composite
it has secured 116 acres of land at Naidu- Operating Offi cer (COO) and senior 20, 2025. He was associated with “During the meeting on January 22, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin licence block, which means that the
peta in Andhra Pradesh for its next managerial personnel. The company’s Manali Petrochemicals earlier in his 2025, the Ambalakarars requested the had also earlier urged Prime Minister block has been partially explored and
greenfi eld expansion, which is expected board of directors fi nalised this decision career, serving in key roles within the Union Minister to cancel the auction of Narendra Modi to cancel the award the successful bidder will have to carry
to help it cross the 1-million-tonne acting on the recommendation of the Procurement, Sales, and Marketing the Nayakkarpatti tungsten block. After of tungsten mining rights in Madurai out exploration in the block before
capacity mark over the next two years. nomination and remuneration committee. departments from 1994 to 2007. detailed deliberations, considering the district. mining lease is granted.

146 Chemical Weekly February 4, 2025 Chemical Weekly February 4, 2025 147

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