The Indian government has permitted the export of Second Generation (2G) ethanol, and now experts believe that India can take the lead in this direction, as it is an emerging sector.
In a notification released on September 24, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated that export of 2G Ethanol, that is ethanol produced through cellulosic material such as bagasse, wood waste, other renewable resources, industrial wastage, lignocellulosic feedstocks (e.g. agricultural and forestry residues such as rice and wheat straw, corn and stover, bagasse, woody biomass), non-food crops (e.g. grasses, algae) and residue streams, and having low CO2 emissions or high GHG reduction, and which do not compete with food crops for land use and meets IS 15464 specifications (as amended from time to time), is permitted for fuel and non-fuel purposes, subject to a valid Export Authorisation and feedstock certification from the relevant competent authority.
While speaking to ChiniMandi, Public Policy Expert on Infrastructure, Green Fuels & Sustainable Mobility and IFGE Founder Director Vaibhav Dange said, “India has very successfully implemented the 20 per cent ethanol blending program, achieving the target almost five years ahead of schedule. Second-generation (2G) ethanol represents the next level of ethanol production in India. As you may know, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Numaligarh refinery, which marks a significant step in this direction. 2G ethanol is an emerging sector where India can take the lead. Since most 2G ethanol is agro-based, agro-waste based, it holds tremendous promise as a green and renewable energy source with low carbon emissions. I believe this presents a great opportunity for India to gradually become a global hub for biofuels, potentially positioning the country as the world capital of biofuels.”
Recently, India got its first 2G ethanol plant, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Numaligarh Refinery Ltd’s bamboo-based refinery unit in Assam. The foundation stone of the NRL Bio Refinery at Numaligarh was laid by the PM himself on February 9, 2019.
The Numaligarh Rs 5,000 crore 2nd-generation bioethanol plant is one of the first such unis in the world to utilise bamboo. It is a zero-waste plant, as it utilises every part of the bamboo to produce high-value industrial chemicals such as green furfural and green acetic acid, which is used in APIs, food-grade carbon dioxide (CO2) and bio-coal.
