Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: In an effort to provide financial support to advanced biofuel projects and attract more investment, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the modified Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana.
The scheme aims to provide remunerative income to farmers for their agriculture residue, address environmental pollution, create local employment opportunities and contribute to India’s energy security and self-reliance.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas informed that the modified scheme extends timeline for implementation of scheme by five years till 2028-29, and includes advanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks — agricultural and forestry residues, industrial waste, synthesis gas and algae, etc.
“To promote multiple technologies and multiple feedstocks, preference would now be given to project proposals with new technologies and innovations in the sector,” said the Government. The Government has been promoting blending of ethanol in petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme, wherein public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) sell petrol blended with ethanol.
Under the programme, the blending of ethanol with petrol increased from 38 crore litres in ethanol supply year (ESY) 2013-14 to more than 500 crore litres in ESY 2022-23. The Government informed that the blending percentage touched 15.83 per cent in July and cumulative blending percentage has crossed 13 per cent in the ongoing ESY 2023-24. According to the ministry, OMCs are on course to achieve the 20 per cent blending target by the end of ESY 2025-26.
