NEW DELHI: Union Cabinet chaired by Pm Modi adopted revisions to the National Policy on Biofuels 2018 on Wednesday. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas notified the 'National Policy on Biofuels 2018' on June 4, 2018, superseding the National Policy on Biofuels promulgated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in 2009.

According to an official statement released after the cabinet meeting, amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels were made due to advancements in the field of biofuels, various decisions taken in the National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) meetings to increase biofuel production, recommendation of the Standing Committee, and the decision to advance to introduce Ethanol Blended Petrol with up to 20% ethanol throughout the country from 1 April 2023. The revised policy aims to provide more feedstocks for biofuel production and to move the ethanol blending target of 20% ethanol in petrol to ESY 2025-26 from 2030.

Under the Make in India programme, it aims to boost the manufacture of biofuels in the country via units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs). The revised policy also aims to allow the export of biofuels in certain circumstances. This idea will also attract and support the development of indigenous technology, paving the path for the 'Make in India' initiative and generating more jobs, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The current National Biofuels Policy was introduced in 2018. This amendment proposal will open the door for the 'Make in India' initiative, resulting in a decrease in petroleum imports. "Since many more feedstocks are being authorised for biofuel production, this would promote Atmanirbhar Bharat and give impetus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambition of India becoming 'energy independent' by 2047," the statement said.

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