Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas was questioned by Rajya Sabha Member Kartikeya Sharma on the number of petrol pumps selling Biofuels, replying to which, MoS in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli said:
‘Biofuels’ are fuels produced from renewable resources and used in place of or in blend with, diesel, petrol or other fossil fuels for transport, stationary, portable and other applications. This includes ethanol, Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) etc. Ethanol Blended Petrol is sold across the country including Haryana. Further, as on date three Retail Outlets (ROs) sell biofuels [Compressed Bio Gas (CBG)] in Haryana.
Will the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas be pleased to state:
whether there is any plan to increase the number of such petrol pumps in the near future; if so, the details thereof;
Answer: Expansion of Retail outlet network across the country is a continuous process to ensure adequate availability of transportation fuels. Further, Government vide Resolution dated 8thNovember,2019 has revised the guidelines for authorization to market transportation fuels. The authorized entities are required to install facilities for marketing at least one new generation alternate fuel including biofuel at their proposed retail outlets within three years of operation of the said outlet subject to the entity complying with various other statutory guidelines.
Will the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas be pleased to state:
the total amount of current production of jatropha in the country and the steps taken to increase its production
As per estimates of Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA), India can produce about11-15 lakh tonnes of non-edible oil for industrial uses including Biodiesel manufacturing from Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs) which also includes Jatropha. The Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, National Food Security Mission – Oilseeds & Oil palm (NFSM-OS&OP) from 2018-19 to augment the availability of vegetable oils and to reduce the import of edible oils by increasing the production and productivity of oilseeds and area expansion of Oil Palm &TBOs including Jatropha. The NFSM-TBOs is being implemented through State Department of Agriculture/Horticulture in eight states during 2022-23. Further, National Policy on Bio Fuel 2018 encourages Gram Panchayats/ talukas to use waste land for plantations of non-edible oil seeds including jatropha.
Will the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas be pleased to state:
whether there is any alternative to jatropha for producing biofuel, if so, the details thereof?
Jatropha is classified under “Non-edible Oilseed” and is a potential domestic raw material for production of Biodiesel. As per National Policy on Biofuels 2018 and its subsequent amendment dated 15th June 2022, the potential alternative to jatropha for producing biofuel (bio diesel) in the country are Non-edible Oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil (UCO), Animal tallow, Acid Oil, Short Gestation non-edible oil rich crops, algal feedstock, etc.
