New Delhi: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the International Methanol Seminar and Expo, organised by NITI Aayog in New Delhi today. The event was also 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 visited the Expo, where methanol-based products and machinery were displayed.
Speaking at the seminar, Nitin Gadkari emphasized two critical concerns: rising pollution and the increasing imports of fossil fuels. He highlighted the urgent need to reduce these imports, which amount to about ₹22 lakh crore, especially given the current global geopolitical uncertainties. He underscored the importance of biofuels in achieving energy independence, strengthening the agricultural economy, and ensuring the prosperity of India's farmers. Gadkari also noted that India's logistics costs could be lowered by using alternative fuels such as methanol, ethanol, and bio-CNG.
The Union Minister remarked that India is making significant strides in the biofuel sector, particularly in methanol. He praised NITI Aayog's efforts to promote methanol, citing its affordability and pollution-free nature. He also mentioned the use of low-quality coal, which is available in certain states, for methanol production.
Gadkari discussed the concept of converting waste into wealth, highlighting how materials like used tyre powder and plastic are being utilised in road construction. This approach contributes to the reduction of bitumen imports. He emphasized that the initiative of using crop waste is helping to increase farmers' incomes across the country.
The significance of waste-to-energy technologies was also addressed, particularly the production of bio-CNG from rice straw. This method has shown promise in 475 projects, with over 40 already operational in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. The conversion ratio of rice straw to bio-CNG is roughly 5:1 in tonnes. The Union Minister urged for additional research into more efficient biomass sources and cost-effective transportation methods for biomass.
Gadkari acknowledged the stubble burning problem in Punjab and Haryana, stating that currently, India can process one-fifth of the parali (stubble). With improved planning, however, the seasonal air pollution caused by stubble burning could be significantly reduced by using parali as a raw material for alternative fuels. He stressed that India needs to advance with policies that are cost-effective, indigenous, substitute imports, and generate employment to address the pressing issues of rising pollution and fossil fuel imports.
Nitin Gadkari appreciated NITI Aayog for organising the International Seminar and Expo on Methanol.
BI Bureau
