Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan opined that the sugar industry has the capacity to produce low emission clean fuel.
"The sugar industry holds a huge capacity to provide sustainable solutions to many of our problems including making low emission clean fuel available and enhancing our farmer's income. Several steps have been taken by our government to improve the condition of sugar mills and our farmers," Pradhan said while addressing the gathering at the 84th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) on Friday.
Elaborating upon India's energy consumption, he said: "As the third largest energy consumer of the world, we are investing nearly Rs. 7-8 lakh crore to procure energy from foreign countries. With changing times the world is focused on clean and non-polluting energy. We must also work towards finding and developing alternative and clean energy sources."
Pradhan asserted that the amount of bio-waste India generates can be converted into energy as that will not only generate energy but will help in waste disposal as well.
"India produces an estimated 600 million metric tonne bio-waste, which can be utilised and converted into energy. This will not only provide a sustainable solution to our waste disposal problem but will also address our search for a clean, economical and sustainable source of energy," he noted.
Pradhan also said the ISMA should come forward and contribute to the bio-energy sector to help provide sustainable fuel solutions to the country. "Our government is ready to provide all necessary support for such initiatives," he added.
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