New Delhi, Aug 10 (FN Agency) The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) successfully hosted the 3rd International Conference on World Biofuel Day 2024, themed “The Biofuel Revolution in India: Fueling Tomorrow”. The event, held under SIAM’s Bio-initiative, gathered global and national experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore the crucial role of biofuels in India’s sustainable energy transition and its impact on the automotive industry. The conference began with an inaugural session titled “Catalysing the Indian Biofuel Story for the Global Arena”, moderated by Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director of SIAM. He welcomed the attendees, stating, “There are three C’s—collaboration, communication, competency—that define India’s biofuel journey. India has embraced the E20 economy, and its collaborative efforts are manifested by strong cooperation from global partners.”
The conference was graced by Kenneth Félix Haczynski da Nóbrega, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil, as the Chief Guest. He highlighted, “Driven by our shared vision for a sustainable future, Brazil’s ethanol expertise and India’s progress in decarbonisation align with our goal of 20-25% biofuel use. The collaboration between India and Brazil sets a global example in the energy transition, emphasizing inclusivity and cost-effective bioenergy solutions.” Rohit Mathur, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, noted, “Today’s success is the result of collective efforts under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister. We are poised to see significant progress in the next five years as we advance biofuels and fully utilise domestic resources. The ethanol programme is benefiting farmers, saving foreign exchange, and transforming the ecosystem.” K.C. Sharma, Chief Engineer (MVL) at the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, remarked, “Achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 is a national commitment, with biofuels being crucial to this goal. We have increased ethanol blending from 1.4% in 2013-14 to nearly 20% today.”
Vikram S. Kasbekar, Executive Director of Hero MotoCorp Ltd and SIAM Executive Committee Member, addressed the need for flexible fuel vehicles, stating, “The industry will be ready soon to roll out flex fuel vehicles, but their uptake is crucial. The energy content in ethanol is less than that of petrol, and we must ensure customers benefit from adopting ethanol.” Dr. Reji Mathai, Director of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), said, “India has achieved E20 compliance with BS VI standards, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to biofuel integration and emission reduction.” Sujoy Choudhury, Director at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, emphasised, “India must ensure that biofuel growth is equitable and sustainable. We have increased our storage capacity ten-fold to support the biofuel journey.” Mandava Prabhakar Rao, President of the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), highlighted the potential of the sugarcane industry, stating, “Increasing the conversion of sugarcane to ethanol by just 10% could meet 55% of the country’s ethanol demand.” The conference also saw the release of the Context Paper on “Biofuels in India: Current Scenario and the Road Ahead”.
In his closing remarks, Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM, stated, “The inaugural session has highlighted India’s significant achievements in the biofuel sector and underscored the need for collaborative efforts to drive future advancements.” The conference featured several thematic sessions, including discussions on biofuel demand and supply management, the auto industry’s readiness for flexible fuel vehicles, and building a resilient ecosystem for biofuels. Key insights were shared by industry leaders, focusing on policy frameworks, technological innovations, and the role of various stakeholders in advancing biofuel adoption. SIAM continues to work actively with governments, corporations, and other stakeholders to boost the adoption of clean fuels, in line with its mission of building the nation responsibly.