Indian Biofuel Industry

Released on: September 29, 2008, 2:18 am

Press Release Author: Bharatbook

Industry: Energy

Press Release Summary: Bharatbook.com launches a latest report "Indian Biofuel
Industry" which analyzes the current biofuel market in India and focuses on causes
for the growing demand for biofuels, the manufacturing technologies and government
regulations.

Press Release Body: Bharatbook.com added a new report on "Indian Biofuel Industry"
(http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=81514)

The report lays out the possible opportunities and challenges for the biofuel
industry. While growth of biofuels is expected to be beneficial for the Indian
sugarcane industry and power mobile networks in electricity-starved rural areas, it
might also create problems related to allocation of land and water resources.
Moreover, fluctuations in the cost of molasses and ensuring proper pricing and
supply of ethanol would have to be addressed.

The report further enumerates various corporate initiatives in the sector and
describes the regulatory issues in key global markets such as the US, China and
Brazil. The final section dwells on the future prospects of the biofuel industry.

Executive Summary

Demand for alternative energy sources is rising rapidly all over the world.
Government across the world have been focusing on the development of biofuels such
as ethanol and biodiesel to mitigate vehicular pollution, address global warming and
reduce dependence on hydrocarbons as the primary source of energy. In India, the
output of ethanol, the chief biofuel, logged an impressive growth rate of 200% in
2005 (F.O. Licht, May 2006). India produces ethanol from molasses and biodiesel is
produced from jatropha. In addition, possibilities are being explored to manufacture
ethanol from sweet sorghum and maize. The government has also sought to frame
enabling legislation to ramp up biofuel production. For instance, one policy
decision that has been discussed in official circles has been to permit the usage
low-grade sugar for ethanol production. Blending of 10% ethanol with petrol —as
against optional 5% for individual states—is slated to be made mandatory from
October 2008 to curb vehicular emissions. Various companies in the private corporate
sector have embarked on a coordinated plan to expand production capacities. The
state oil marketing companies have been looking to collaborate with Brazil, one of
the largest producers and the largest exporter of ethanol in the world. The terms of
collaboration include ownership or leasing of land acreages, production units and
technological know-how.

However, the Indian biofuel industry continues to face several challenges. Fast
population growth, rising income levels, increasing demand for agricultural products
and flawed government policies have been putting the country’s land and water
resources under enormous strain. The growing emphasis on expanding biofuel
production capacity, primarily through the augmentation of ethanol output based on
irrigated sugarcane, is

expected to put further pressure on water resources. It might also lead to the
diversion of land from food crops to sugarcane. An additional concern is the
fluctuation in the cost and supply of molasses, the primary raw material for ethanol
and itself dependent on the price of sugarcane. This leads to the issue of
rationalization of ethanol pricing and supply and the need to stabilize the 5%
ethanol blending programme to ensure the smooth transition to the 10% programme.

Overall, the biofuel industry is expected to grow at a strong rate in the
medium-term with the help of proactive government initiatives and mechanisms to
expand production capacity and minimize price fluctuations of key raw materials.
Moreover, the generation of biodiesel from jatropha is expected to increase and its
usage in diesel cars leading to a reduction in emissions.

For more information, kindly visit - http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=81514

Web Site: http://www.bharatbook.com

Contact Details: contact Information

Bharat Book Bureau
207, Hermes Atrium, Sector 11, PO Box.54, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai - 400 614, India.
Phone : +91 22 2757 8668 / 2757 9438
Fax : +91 22 2757 9131
E-mail : info@bharatbook.com

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