World Biofuel Day, 2021

                        World Biofuel Day, 2021                              

• World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and to highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the Biofuel sector. 

• World Biofuel Day is being celebrated by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas since 2015.

Related details:

• Any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from an organic matter (living or once living material) in a short period of time (days, weeks, or even months) is considered a biofuel.

• Biofuels may be solid, liquid or gaseous in nature.

Solid: Wood, dried plant material, and manure

Liquid: Bioethanol and Biodiesel

Gaseous: Biogas

• Biofuels are derived from renewable bio-mass resources. 

• They provide a strategic advantage to supplement conventional energy sources in meeting the rapidly increasing requirements for transportation fuels. 

Initiatives by the Government of India:

• The Government of India has taken a number of initiatives to increase blending of biofuels.

• The major interventions include administrative price mechanism for ethanol, simplifying the procurement procedures of OMCs, amending the provisions of Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 and enabling lignocellulosic route for ethanol procurement. These interventions of the Government of India have shown positive results. 

• Biofuels have the benefits of reducing import dependency on crude oil, cleaner environment, additional income to farmers and employment generation in rural areas.

• The biofuels programme is also in synergy with the Government of India initiatives for Make in India, Swachh Bharat and enhancing farmers’ income.