India and Brazil explore ethanol partnership for green fuel expansion

19 Jan 2024 CW Team

India is currently engaged in discussions with Brazil to establish a technological collaboration aimed at expanding the utilisation of ethanol, aligning with efforts to reduce carbon emissions through alternative fuels.

Highlighting Brazil's extensive history of using ethanol in vehicles, Union Minister V K Singh emphasised the potential for knowledge exchange with the South American nation. Speaking at the 'Assocham-Fuels of the Future 2.0' conference in the national capital, he expressed the importance of learning from Brazil's experience to develop a robust ecosystem for ethanol and other alcohol-based fuels in India.

In addition to sugarcane, Singh noted that ethanol could be produced from diverse sources such as broken rice, maize, and corn. He emphasised the necessity of creating awareness about alternative fuels as a means to replace fossil fuels. Singh, who also serves as the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, highlighted the ongoing trials of sustainable aviation fuels, emphasising the challenge of determining which alternative fuels to adopt and promoting a shift in mindset toward them.

Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nobrega, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil, commended the launch of the Global BioFuel Alliance during India's G20 presidency as a groundbreaking initiative in clean energy. He affirmed Brazil's commitment to sharing its technological expertise with India and expressed the intention to further develop the partnership on ethanol technology.

Regarding India's green hydrogen mission, Minister V K Singh reported its success in promoting green hydrogen as a fuel for various types of vehicles, indicating progress in aligning with environmental objectives.

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