Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has said that the country could save Rs 91,000 crore on the import bill through biofuel blending and this money could be utilized for the benefit of the agricultural sector. He said India has achieved the second position in biofuel blending globally, underscoring its leading position in sustainable fuel practices.
He expressed confidence that India will achieve the target of 20 percent biofuel blending by next year, much ahead of the schedule. He stated ‘As our refineries take to green energy, the country will succeed in the goal towards green hydrogen.’ He said India’s crude oil refining capacity has reached 400 to 450 million metric tons per annum, which is one-third of the global average.
Further, emphasizing India’s refining sector, Puri noted India has the capability to process over 250 types of crude oil, with refining capacity anticipated to grow from the current 258 MMTPA to 310 MMTPA. India’s refining expansion, coupled with petrochemical integration, positions India well on its way towards a flexible, efficient energy transition.