India may end use of fossil fuel much before 2070: Oil minister

NEW DELHI, Sept. 13 -- Petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said India will be self-reliant in energy sector by 2047 and is likely to end use of fossil fuel much before the country's target of achieving net zero emissions by 2070. "While India's energy consumption will keep increasing, our dependence on fossil fuel will gradually decline and use of biofuels will rise. After 2030, use of green hydrogen, the fuel of future, and ethanol will increase," As for dependence on oil, gas and coal from foreign countries, Puri said by the year of Amrit Kaal in 2047, when nation celebrates 100 years of freedom, India will be self-sufficient in terms of energy needs due to green hydrogen and biofuels. India currently blends 12% ethanol, made from farm products like sugarcane, maize, stubble, bamboo and broken food grain, in petrol. It plans to take it to 20% by 2025, five years ahead of the earlier target of 2030 by when e20 is available across India. "At 12% blending, we procure 562 crore litre of ethanol and 100 crore litre of biodiesel. For achieving 20%, we will need 1,000 crore litre by 2025," Puri said, adding that there are already more than 5,000 petrol pumps in India that serves e20 fuel. Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from News Point. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.com