Dr Mahendra Agnihotri
The highlight of India Energy Week (IEW) 2023 was, perhaps, the launch of uniforms made of recycled PET bottles under the ‘Unbottled’ initiative of IndianOil. It was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the event on February 6, 2023 in Bengaluru.
Guided by the PM’s vision to phase out single-use plastic, IndianOil has adopted uniforms for retail customer attendants and LPG delivery personnel made from recycled polyester and cotton.
Each set of such uniforms supports the recycling of around 28 used PET bottles. Under this brand, IndianOil targets to meet the requirement of uniforms for retail attendants of other oil marketing companies, non-combat uniforms for the Army, uniforms and dresses for institutions.
Indoor solar cooking
During the occasion, PM Modi also dedicated the twin-cooktop model of the IndianOil’s indoor solar cooking system and flagged off its commercial rollout. Later he launched E20 fuel at 84 retail outlets of oil marketing companies in 11 states and Union Territories along the lines of the ethanol blending roadmap. He further flagged off the Green Mobility Rally where vehicles running on green energy sources will participate and help create public awareness for green fuels.
“India is one of the strongest voices in the world for energy transition and for developing new resources of energy. Unprecedented possibilities are emerging in India that is moving with a resolution of a Viksit Bharat”, he stated in his address.
He further elaborated on the green energy initiative and informed that in the last nine years, renewable energy capacity increased from 70 gigawatts to about 170 gigawatts in that solar power increased by 20 times. India, he said, is at number four in wind power capacity.
“We are aiming to have 50 per cent non-fossil fuel capacity by the end of this decade,” he said, adding, “We are also working very fast on biofuel, and ethanol blending. In the last nine years, we have increased ethanol blending in petrol from 1.5 per cent to 10 per cent.
Now we are moving towards the target of 20 per cent ethanol blending.” The three-day event attracted participation from more than 35 foreign ministers and heads of international organisations. Also present were 500 international speakers, over 30,000 energy professionals, more than 8,000 delegates, and some 700 exhibitors from several countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Congratulating participants for making it a resounding success, the minister said that being the first major event under India’s G20 presidency, it provided a dynamic unique opportunity for India to bring together all the international stakeholders, domestic as well as international, on a common platform to facilitate growth, collaboration and transition to make a sustainable, be a part of transformative and prosperous future for all.
He said that India utilised the opportunity to showcase various initiatives taken by the Union Government in the energy domain to ensure energy security of its 1.4 billion citizens while also conforming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge at COP26 to cut India’s emissions to achieve net-zero by 2070.
According to him, India Pavilion provided an immersive digital experience, showcasing the country’s energy evolution, innovation, achievements, multi-pronged strategy to diversify our energy mix, policy reforms, energy transition and sustainability actions and goals.
