The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in partnership with the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE), recently hosted a significant seminar on India’s Biofuel Journey at Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan, New Delhi. The event gathered leaders, innovators, and policymakers to discuss the future trajectory of biofuels and bioenergy in the country.
Dr. Gaurav Mishra, Scientist ‘F’ at MNRE, welcomed the attendees, describing the event as both a celebration of past achievements and a call to accelerate biofuel adoption nationwide. Following this, Dr. Sangita Kasture, Advisor at MNRE, provided a comprehensive overview of India’s biofuels landscape, highlighting applications ranging from cooking fuels to aviation. She emphasized the critical role biofuels play in sustainable development and the circular economy, urging increased public-private investment to drive growth.
Secretary of MNRE, Shri Santosh Sarangi, praised the collective efforts of stakeholders and emphasized biofuels’ potential in addressing key challenges such as stubble burning, rural employment, farmer income enhancement, and agricultural waste management. He celebrated milestones like the achievement of 20% ethanol blending and called for the development of a strategic roadmap for the next phase of bioenergy expansion.
Additional Secretary Shri Sudeep Jain highlighted India’s vast agricultural residue resources and called for a unified industry approach to scale bioenergy production without feedstock limitations. Shri Vikram Gulati, Chairperson of IFGE’s Bio-Mobility Forum and Country Head of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, outlined the promising future of bio-mobility, linking it to cleaner transport solutions and sustainable economic growth.
Further, Shri Ashish Kumar, VP of IFGE and MD of Verbio India Pvt. Ltd., showcased technological advancements in Compressed Biogas (CBG) both domestically and globally, while Shri Roshan Lal Tamak, Executive Director of DCM Shriram, shared the success of the Ethanol Blending Programme and its potential application in the CBG sector.
Hon’ble Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, lauded India’s progress in biofuels and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding green energy initiatives. The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks from Shri Vaibhav Dange, Founder Director of IFGE, recognizing the dedication of all participants in advancing India’s biofuel mission.
This seminar reinforced the vital role bioenergy plays in India’s Net Zero vision — transforming waste into wealth, empowering rural communities, and driving the nation’s energy transition forward.
