The revolutionary reforms under PM Narendra Modi-led government have been sensational so far gaining positive reviews from the people in India. In the last January, India’s first solar-powered ferry and the largest solar-powered boat was launched from Kochi. After six months in the same year, India’s first ever solar-powered DEMU train was launched.
To make this year much more productive, India’s first biofuel-powered flight landed in the national capital, New Delhi. The flight was tested for domestic operations on Monday between Dehradun and New Delhi. The introduction of bio-powered flight is destined to reduce India’s dependency on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) which will also cut down on airfares.
“On August 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the new Biofuel policy and today we have successfully implemented it in the aviation sector. This is a great achievement for clean energy, Biofuel energy and aviation industry. The Petroleum Ministry will soon come up with a new BioATF policy,” Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told ANI.
He stressed the fact that ATF price is the essential factor in the aviation industry, and in the days to come, the country will work towards cutting down import dependency in this area. “In the emerging aviation industry, this will be beneficial for everybody since it is not only economical but also environment-friendly. It would help generate employment and additional income for the farmers,” Pradhan said.
“The GST (Goods and Service Tax) on Bio-diesel has been reduced to 12 per cent from 18 per cent. On Ethanol it has been reduced to 5 per cent. Last year, we bought 3,500 crores of Ethanol, and it would increase. There would also be an increase in the business of Bio-diesel and Bio-CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). We have achieved the most challenging aspect that is to find a substitute for the ATF. And, in the coming days, there would be a rise in bio-energy from all sides, be it ATF, transportation liquid fuel, or CNG,” Pradhan added.
Talking about the potential effects of Biofuel on aviation fuel prices, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari opened up that the government is working to cut down the cost of this fuel. The introduction of biofuel concept will not only reduce the quantity of imports but also reduce greenhouse gases and would benefit the consumers.
“It is Rs 70 per litre today. This would be reduced to Rs 55/litre soon and the manufacturing of aviation fuel will increase in India. There is already the market of Rs 30, 000 crore. Tribals and farmers will get jobs from this process. We will increase the productivity using biotechnology. We had a discussion with the Petroleum Minister on making a special policy on Biofuel ATF and then bringing it in the cabinet,” Gadkari said.
“We import oil in large quantities and it is consumed by the whole transportation sector. Biofuel would reduce the quantity of our imports, emission of greenhouse gases, and would further benefit the consumers,” Prabhu told ANI.
“This fuel is low cost and helps in significantly reducing carbon emissions. It has the potential to reduce our dependence on traditional Aviation Fuel by 50 per cent on every flight and bring down air fares. India is the fastest growing aviation market in the world today and it is our responsibility to grow using clean and sustainable technologies,” said the Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet, Ajay Singh.
