New Delhi: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated the International Methanol Seminar and Expo, organized by NITI Aayog today in New Delhi. The event focused on exploring the potential of methanol as a clean, alternative fuel to reduce pollution and reliance on fossil fuel imports. The seminar was attended by Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, V.K. Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog, and Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
Gadkari also visited the expo, which featured an array of methanol-based products and machinery, showcasing India’s growing innovation in the biofuel sector.
In his address, Gadkari highlighted two pressing issues: rising pollution and India’s dependency on fossil fuel imports, which currently cost the nation ₹22 lakh crore annually. He emphasized the need for alternative fuels like methanol, ethanol, and bio-CNG to reduce imports and achieve self-sufficiency, particularly amid ongoing global geopolitical uncertainties.
Methanol, being both affordable and environmentally friendly, is emerging as a viable solution for India’s energy challenges. Gadkari noted that low-quality coal found in some Indian states is being used to produce methanol, adding to the country’s efforts in reducing fossil fuel dependency.
Gadkari stressed the significance of biofuels in boosting the agricultural economy and ensuring prosperity for India’s farmers. He detailed efforts to convert waste into wealth, including the use of tyre powder and plastic in road construction to reduce bitumen imports. Gadkari also mentioned that utilizing crop waste, such as rice straw, for biofuel production has shown promise in raising farmers’ incomes.
The Minister emphasized the potential of bio-CNG production from agricultural residues, particularly rice straw. He pointed out that this technology has been successfully deployed in 475 projects across the country, with over 40 operational plants in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. The conversion of rice straw to bio-CNG, with a 5:1 ratio, is being explored to reduce stubble burning and mitigate seasonal air pollution in states like Punjab and Haryana.
Gadkari urged further research into efficient biomass sources and cost-effective transportation methods for biomass to enhance the biofuel sector. He called for a national policy that is cost-effective, indigenous, import-substitute based, and employment-generating, which would address the critical issues of pollution reduction and fossil fuel import dependency.
The Minister concluded by appreciating NITI Aayog for organizing the International Seminar and Expo on Methanol, praising its efforts in promoting methanol as an alternative, cleaner fuel for India’s energy future.