National Biofuel policy and Issue of stubble burning
- India produces ~25 million tonnes of used cooking oil and agricultural residue every year, much of which is wasted or pollutes the environment.
- Stubble burning (“Parali”) in northern India (Punjab, Haryana) is a major contributor to pollution.
Current Policy Initiatives
- National Biofuel Policy 2018:
- Prohibits use of food crops for fuel.
- Promotes non-edible oils and waste-based feedstock.
- Targets 5% blending of diesel with biodiesel by 2030, requiring ~500 crore liters of biodiesel annually.
- Government mandates & support:
- Encouragement to use agricultural waste (e.g., Parali) for bricks, pellets, and fuel.
- Support for small-scale biofuel production units to reduce local waste burden.
- Innovations:
- Indian Institute of Petroleum’s mobile unit to produce biodiesel from 20 liters of used oil/day.
Opportunities
- Promotes energy security and reduces crude oil imports (currently imports ~80% of crude oil).
- Supports rural economy by creating decentralized, regional production hubs.
- Encourages entrepreneurship and local job creation.
- Addresses solid waste and urban pollution challenges.
- Supports climate goals by reducing emissions.
Challenges
- Limited collection infrastructure and weak supply chains for used cooking oil.
- Low consumer and shopkeeper awareness; weak enforcement.
- High production costs; cost of biodiesel is 2–3 times higher than diesel.
- Difficulty in integrating informal sector actors.
- Food security concerns due to possible diversion of edible oils.
Suggestions & Way Forward
- Strengthen collection networks and enforcement for used oil.
- Increase incentives (e.g., GST reduction, input subsidies) to improve viability.
- Encourage civil society participation to make biofuel adoption a mass movement.
- Implement transparent pricing and support mechanisms for producers.
- Promote advanced (2G) biofuels from agricultural waste and non-edible feedstocks to avoid food vs fuel conflicts.
Conclusion
Biofuels offer India a significant opportunity to improve energy security, support farmers, reduce pollution, and meet climate commitments. However, strong policy support, better infrastructure, awareness, and integrated waste management are crucial to fully realize this potential.