New Delhi: Dr Jeewan Prakash Gupta, Chair of the Environment Committee at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the growing importance of ethanol production in India during a Multilateral Roundtable on Dented Corn Ethanol held in New Delhi on Thursday, reports The Statesman.
He noted that the government is increasingly mandating the blending of ethanol in petroleum products, underscoring the need for sustainable energy sources.
According to Dr Gupta, increasing ethanol production is limited because of the feedstock availability. The PHD Chamber had organized the 4th International Climate Summit on July 19 where experts from the USA, Japan, South Korea, Canada, France, Sweden, and India got together. The conclave was also addressed by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Dr. Gupta, in his address, pressed for parity in the import of non-edible dent corn with that of crude oil so that energy security could be ensured on a sustainable basis. He further informed that bio-ethanol, extracted from dented corn, is a substitute viable and sustainable to fossil fuels.
While reflecting on the deliberations at the International Summit, Dr Gupta remarked that there was unanimity over the fact that non-edible, yellow, dented corn could be used as feedstock for the production of ethanol, which is viewed as some sort of master key to make India self-sufficient in its energy security. He solicited suggestions for the import of dented corn without duties for 5-10 years, thereby allowing the local farming industry time to increase its production.
According to Dr Gupta, Yellow dented corn which is not for food consumption is the best suitable feedstock to make ethanol for several reasons.
Dr. Gupta also added that the program was undertaken to take further the process as initiated by the International Summit and pursue this further with concerned government agencies for its implementation. He emphasized that experts perceive bio-ethanol as one of the important routes for the production of biofuels, decarbonization, and promoting sustainable development. According to him, this initiative would not only help to make India a global leader in sustainable development but also enhance the energy and food security of the country.
Here, he said that the government may give some incentives and policies like green hydrogen to further accelerate ethanol production. Such steps would make India self-sufficient in energy and improve the quality of life in rural areas.
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