Page 144 - CW E-Magazine (29-10-2024)

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BIOFUELS

Ethanol blending reaches 15% in 2024: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport four states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar
and Highways Mr. Nitin Gadkari has Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. With Pradesh, and Karnataka.
reaffi rmed the Government’s commit- plans to launch fl ex-engine cars that
ment to advancing ethanol blending run on ethanol, discussions with lead- The minister also called for further
and biofuel initiatives. ing automakers are ongoing and promi- research into effi cient biomass sources
nent manufacturers of two-wheelers are and cost-effective transportation of
He was speaking at the ‘12th CII preparing to launch ethanol-powered biomass.
Bioenergy Summit 2024’ themed ‘ bikes once the infrastructure is ready,
Fuelling the Future – Securing India’s the minister added. Addressing the environmental chal-
Green Growth Goals’ in New Delhi. lenge of stubble burning in Punjab and
“We are fast-tracking efforts to in- Haryana, Mr. Gadkari praised Indian
Highlighting the success of etha- crease ethanol production and distri- Oil’s Panipat plant, which is converting
nol blending in India, Mr. Gadkari bution in these four key states,” said agricultural waste (parali) into biomass.
noted that ethanol blending in petrol Mr. Gadkari. He further added that “At present, we are able to process one-
has surged from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% these initiatives align with India’s fi fth of the parali, but with proper plan-
in 2024, with a target to reach 20% by broader biofuel goals, positioning ning, we can signifi cantly reduce the
2025. Research is underway to explore the country as a leader in sustainable seasonal air pollution caused by stubble
blending 15% ethanol in diesel as well, energy solutions. burning,” he said.
as part of the government’s strategy to
reduce fossil fuel dependency, said the Waste-to-energy technologies Highlighting the urgency of reduc-
minister. Mr. Gadkari also stressed the im- ing India’s annual fossil fuel import,
portance of leveraging waste-to-energy particularly amidst global geopolitical
He further emphasised the creation technologies, especially in the pro- uncertainties, he noted that “biofuel
of an ethanol ecosystem, which in- duction of bio-CNG from rice straw. is key to India’s energy self-reliance,
cludes the establishment of 400 ethanol This has proven viable across 475 pro- boosting the agricultural economy, and
pumps by Indian Oil Corporation in jects, with over 40 already operational ensuring prosperity for our farmers.”

MEETING WATER NEEDS
CPCL plans desalination plant for Nagapattinam refi nery

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. project cost of Rs. 36,354-crore, is plant at Kattupalli plays a key role in
(CPCL) is planning to construct a large expected to be around Rs. 3,030-crore meeting the water needs of its refi nery
desalination plant as part of its upcoming for its 25% stake. CPCL has long fo- operations. This facility is powered by
mega refi nery project in Nagapattinam, cused on reducing freshwater use by renewable energy generated from a
Tamil Nadu. The new refi nery project implementing sewage reclamation, 17.6-MW wind farm in Dindigul, mak-
in Nagapattinam will be supported by tertiary treatment plants, and desalina- ing the company’s desalination efforts
a desalination plant with a capacity of tion facilities. Its 22-mlpd desalination environmentally sustainable.
approximately 60-mlpd (million litres per
day), Mr. H Shankar, Managing Director, Fire at Meghmani Organics factory in Dahej
CPCL, told a fi nancial newspaper. A massive fi re broke out at the After receiving the information
Meghmani Organics Ltd.’s factory about the incident, the fi re brigade
CPCL is developing a 9-mtpa re- in Dahej, Gujarat on October 20. The reached the spot to douse the blaze.
fi nery at the Cauvery Basin Refi nery in company said the fi re incident occurred The exact cause of fi re is under in-
Nagapattinam district, through a joint in the “pigment plant’s isolated area” vestigation. “There is no impact on
venture with its parent company, Indian and there was “no injury or no loss of production as the plant was shut
Oil Corporation Ltd. CPCL’s equity human life and no damage to the mate- down for maintenance,” the company
contribution, based on the approved rials of the company.” informed.

144 Chemical Weekly October 29, 2024

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