On Thursday, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, urged the sugar industry to explore various diversification opportunities.
Speaking virtually at the annual general meeting of the Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), the minister stressed the importance of establishing ethanol and CNG pumps, potentially with private sector involvement.
He highlighted the significant potential of flex engines, ethanol-based engines, and bioCNG as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
The minister noted that five automakers, including Tata, Suzuki, and Toyota, are preparing to launch flex-fuel engine cars in the market and encouraged tractor manufacturers to begin producing tractors powered by alternative fuels.
Gadkari also suggested exploring the possibility of exporting ethanol to neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to expand market opportunities.
He emphasized the potential of bio-bitumen production from lignin and biomass, along with green hydrogen generation from the sugar industry’s infrastructure, as promising areas for growth.
The minister further highlighted the role of green hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, recommending the use of existing infrastructure in the sugar and ethanol industries for its production.
“I understand that producing sugar may not seem attractive, but with the addition of ethanol, CNG, hydrogen, and other by-products, we can enhance both productivity and profitability in the industry,” he said.
He also urged the industry to focus on improving sugarcane productivity by adopting modern techniques such as nano-fertilizers and drone spraying.
For detailed information and further insights, please refer to BioEnergyTimes.com, which provides the latest news about the Ethanol Industry
