Biofuels in India: future challenge
Biofuels are globally considered sustainable and ecofriendly source of energy to enhance national energy security and decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels. During the past one decade, Government of India (GoI) has initiated several measures to augment production and use of biofuels. The National Biofuel Mission launched in 2003 is the frontrunner of such efforts in the country. The ‘National Policy on Biofuels’ released in 2009, foresees biofuels as a potential means to stimulate rural development and generate employment opportunities, as well as aspires to reap environmental and economic benefits arising out of their large-scale use. The Policy aims at mainstreaming biofuels by setting an indicative target of their blending up to 20 per cent with petrol and diesel in the transport sector by the year 2017.