GUWAHATI: The Assam government has sought the Centre's permission to allow all refineries of Assam to blend 20 percent ethanol in their plants. During a one-day investors’ meeting held on September 24, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri that permitting ethanol blending in the refineries will be cost-effective for the State.
In reference to the State government’s Ethanol Production Promotion Policy and ethanol utilisation in oil marketing companies, Sarma said that it will also lead to capacity empowerment of the companies besides enabling them to meet the demands of green energy.
Ethanol is one of the biofuels which is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugar by yeasts. An ethanol blend is a blended motor fuel containing ethyl alcohol that is at least 99 percent pure, and petroleum. Using ethanol as a biofuel for vehicles will potentially be cost effective, although it will also reduce the fuel efficiency by 3 to 4 percent.
Hardeep Singh Puri assured the Centre's support in the capacity enhancement of Digboi Oil Refinery, the first refinery in Asia and one of the oldest refineries in operation.
The Assam government is also considering expanding the base of the gas cracker project for the exploration of the energy sources, and has sought the Centre's help in this regard.
Puri said that the northeastern region of the country is one of the most promising regions in terms of economic potential. He said that in order to sync with the Government’s commitment to make the Indian economy USD 5 trillion, northeast India has to contribute substantially.
Considering the huge reservoir of hydrocarbon reserves present in the Northeast, Puri said the Centre will help the region in tapping the hydrocarbon resources to catalyze the growth of the region and improve the standard of living of the people, while creating sustainable energy for the future.