Addressing the National Seminar on "Bio Fuel Programme in India - The Way Forward" Petroleum Minister, Mr Dharmendra Pradhan stressed upon the need of discovering our own model which will take various factors prevalent in Indian Society in consideration in implementation of Bio Fuel initiatives. Mr Pradhan also highlighted the importance of scientific innovations in elevating the life of common man residing in rural parts of the country. He said there is a need of poor-centric economic reforms and major overhaul in the distribution network in line with the vision of Proactive Governance envisaged by Prime Minister.

The National seminar on "Bio Fuel Program in India - The Way Forward" was inaugurated by the Petroleum Minister Mr Dharmedra Pradhan by lighting the lamp in the presence of Padma Vibhushan Dr R A Mashelkar Chancellor - AcSIR, NCL, Pune, Mr K D Tripathi, Secretary, MoP&NG and Mr Sandeep Poundrik Jt. Secretary( Refinery), MoP&NG. Chairman and Managing Directors of Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Oil Corporation also participated in the seminar.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) has prepared a road map to accelerate the implementation of Bio-fuel program by increasing their consumption in India. A Working Group has been set up under the chairmanship of Mr Y B Ramakrishna former Chairman of the Karnataka state Bio Fuel Development Board with the task of preparing the road map for creating synergy between various Ministries, develop awareness and conduct program in the country.

This National Seminar is aimed at accelerating the blending program in the country and draw up a road map to reduce the consumption of fossils fuels by replacing it with locally produced bio fuels thus reducing the foreign exchange out flow, generate rural employment and protect environment.

There were sessions on Bio diesel, Bio Ethanol and New Technologies & Initiatives. The session on Bio Diesel was chaired by Mr Sandeep Poundrik Jt. Secretary( Refinery), MoP&NG which focused on the current Biodiesel scenario and supply chain issues and a presentation on the Industry perspective was made by Mr B Ashok C& MD, IOCL. The session on Bio Ethanol was chaired by Mr Prashant Trivedi, Jt. Secretary (Sugar) focused on streamlining bio-ethanol programme in India and an industry perspective on Bio-ethanol was presented by Mr S Varadarajan, C&MD, BPCL.

The session on New Technologies and Initiatives was chaired by Dr MO Garg DG CSIR and looked at various resources such as agriculture residues, Municipal solid waste and plastic wastes and leading edge technologies for converting them to into fuels which can replace the fossil fuels. An industry perspective on New Technologies and Initiatives was presented by Ms Nishi Vasudeva, C&MD, HPCL.

Representatives of the Bio Diesel and Bio Ethanol Industry, senior executives of OMC's, Researchers, Academics and Jt. Secretaries of several ministries and from the state governments participated in this seminar.