India ministerial group approves National Bio-Fuel Policy; avoids key decisions on biodiesel, jatropha support

In India, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar announced that a ministerial group supervising energy policy has approved the National Bio-fuel Policy, including the formation of a National Bio-fuel Coordination Committee chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The policy will be sent to the national cabinet for approval. The policy document did not resolve competing agendas for renewable energy put forward by the energy and agriculture ministries.

The National Bio-fuel Development Board proposed by the energy ministry to develop support for jatropha, karanja, and other oil crops will be referred to the Coordination Committee. The proposal by the rural development ministry for a National Mission on Biodiesel, including annual support of $318 million for five years, was also referred to the Coordinating Committee.

India background

Biofuels Digest ran a two-part special report on the $2500 Tata vehicle, start at part one here.

Special Biofuels Digest report on India and jatropha

Special Biofuels Digst report on India and cellulosic ethanol

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Indian cabinet approves national biofuels policy with 20 percent ethanol, biodiesel targets for 2017

In India, the Indian cabinet approved a national biofuels policy including a 20 percent ethanol and biodiesel content target for 2017. The country is scheduled to move from a 5 percent ethanol mabdate...

India to re-examine national biofuels policy

In India, prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh referred the draft national biofuel policy back to a Group of Ministers committee headed by Sharad Pawar, after warning that the new policy may fail because...

Indian biodiesel policy imminent; B5 mandate, 1.3 billion gallon market expected as ministers convene

In India, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will convene a Group of Ministers meeting aimed at making a decision on India's biodiesel policy. Observers expect that a Biodiesel Board will be establishe...

India’s biodiesel chief says China pulling ahead, blames government disarray on policy

In India, the head of the country's national biodiesel association said that the lack of a national policy has put India behind China in biodiesel development. Sandeep Chaturvedi, head of the Biodi...

India’s national biodiesel “mission” shelved, but ventures continue to pursue massive jatropha projects

In India, the national initiative for biodiesel has been shelved by a group of federal ministers responsible for biofuels policy development. The proposed 'national mission on biodiesel'  would have ...

India’s biodiesel association calls for more B20 blending, tax exemption to stimulate industry

In India, the Biodiesel Association of India (BDAI) has called on the central government to place biodiesel in the "declared goods" category so that it will receive a uniform rate of taxation througho...