Are People Burnt As Fuel Here?Then What is BIOFUEL?

World Biofuel Day: Know why biofuels are important for India & the world 


Bio-fuels are environment friendly and effectively address global concerns about containment of carbon emissions, which are causing a great deal of trouble in different forms and in different parts of the globe. Bio-fuels also promote sustainable development goals set by the UN and supplement conventional energy sources in meeting the rapidly increasing requirements of fuels, fueled by the need for rapid economic growth across the globe.

Hence, World Bio-fuel Day is observed every year on 10th August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels. This day also highlights the various efforts being continuously made by the government for the sector. World Bio-fuel Day is being observed by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. On World Biofuel Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to virtually inaugurate Rs.900-crore Ethanol Plant in Panipat.

Bio-fuels are touted as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Derived from renewable bio-mass resources, bio-fuels reduce import dependency on crude oil, which is becoming unbearable for a number of countries. The current crisis going on in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a few other countries, has been greatly spurred by the energy crisis.

The bill of the crude oil import of India nearly doubled to 119 billion dollar in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, as energy prices soared globally because of a number of reasons including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India imported 212.2 million tonnes of crude oil in 2021-22, up from 196.5 million tonnes in the previous year. The rising energy import bill restricts the prospects of raising spending on various sectors and welfare programmes related to education, health and others. The conventional energy sources are fast depleting across the world, forcing even the energy export-dependent economies to switch to other ways to sustain themselves.

Hence, bio-fuels are also the need of the hour, as they help to have a cleaner environment, besides generating additional income for farmers and employment for a huge number of people, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

The day also reminds us the contribution of Sir Rudolf Diesel who successfully experimented to run an engine with peanut oil in the year 1893, predicting that vegetable oil may replace fossil fuels in fueling different mechanical engines in the years to come.

Considering the advantages of bio-fuels, the Government of India has emphasized achieving energy security for the country with a target of reducing import dependence. The growing concern about the import dependence on fuel requirements and degrading environmental conditions have further driven the need for alternative fuels.

Environment benefits and economic competitiveness also envisage a strategic role for bio-fuels in the Indian energy basket. The resources being used for creating bio-fuels include agriculture and forest residue, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), cow dung etc, which can be used to convert into biofuels. Bio-fuels are normally used as transportation fuels, but they are also used for heating and electricity generation.

The government is now committed to utilising these resources to reduce the country’s dependence on the import of crude oil and gas, achieve foreign exchange, provide better remuneration for the farmers with a view to double their income, address growing environmental issues, address challenges of waste management and agri-residues management in line with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. These efforts are also going to promote - ‘Make in India’- the flagship campaign of the government.