North News
Chandigarh, October 16
Punjab is set to become a national leader in biofuel production, aiming to meet 20% of the state’s fuel demand through biofuels by 2035, announced Aman Arora, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources, during a round table discussion on Wednesday. The newly unveiled Punjab State Policy for Biofuels promotes the production of Compressed Biogas (CBG), 2G Bio-ethanol, and Biomass Pellets from agricultural residues.
Arora highlighted that the initiative targets utilising at least 50 percent of agricultural waste, improving soil organic content by up to 5%, and offering farmers an extra income stream through biofuel crops. Punjab produces approximately 20 million tons of paddy straw annually, and 12 million tons are already in use. The policy will address stubble burning by establishing 58 CBG projects with a production capacity of 720 tons per day, expected to use 24-25 lakh tons of paddy straw annually and create over 12,500 jobs.
Arora urged farmers and stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing biofuels’ role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. He also advocated for inter-cropping and crop rotation to maintain soil health and ensure sustainable farming. Four CBG projects, with a capacity of 85 tons per day (TPD), are operational, and five more projects are expected to launch by 2026, he added.
