With the presence of india's two most important ministers for the ethanol program (Oil and Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Transport Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari), the Ethanol Pavilion at Asia's largest Auto Show, AutoExpo 2023, was officially opened on Friday, 13. India's Minister of Oil and Natural Gas was welcomed by Unica's Executive Director, Eduardo Leão de Sousa, and APLA Executive Director Flávio Castellari, as well as representatives from the Indian private sector.

According to the executive director of Unica (Sugarcane Industry Union and Bioenergy), Eduardo Leão de Souza, it was a great day for ethanol. "Considering the geopolitical relevance of India in this part of the world and the scale that the country naturally generates – 1.4 billion inhabitants and the prospect of sextuplicating the current fleet of automobiles in the next 20 years – the country's shipment of flex car technology and 20% ethanol blending in gasoline by 2025 is highly significant. In the words of Minister Puri: 'The era of ethanol has arrived,'" said the executive director of Unica.

During the visit, Puri highlighted the importance of ethanol in the decarbonization process of the transport sector. He highlighted the advance, over the last few years, in the percentage of biofuel mixture in gasoline, as well as the partnership with Brazil to achieve the good results of the program, stating that ethanol is the "green fuel of the future in India".

This journey with ethanol began a few years ago. In 2014, we tried to have a 5% mix, but we didn't succeed. However, today I have the pleasure of walking through this exhibition and see that we are with a mixture of 12%. The time for ethanol has come. And we are celebrating its advantages and positive contributions to the environment and economic development," puri commented.

Still according to the executive director of Unica, the moment means a crowning of a cooperation effort that has been developed for many years together by the Brazilian government and private sector. "Whose path was paved with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of Brazil and India, led by the former Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, on the Brazilian side," he said.

One of the concrete results of this cooperation was the launch of the "Ethanol CoE", a digital platform for sharing knowledge about ethanol, signed in April/2022 by UNICA President Evandro Gussi and president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

In 2021, India announced the five-year anticipation of the 20% ethanol blending target in gasoline. Parallel to this initiative, cars with flexfuel technology begin to circulate this year, with engines that run with both gasoline and ethanol (E100), in any proportion.

"Many challenges, but many opportunities for ethanol as part of the decarbonization solution of the global transport matrix. The time is now," Leo said on his Linkedin.

Centre of Excellence

The launch of the Virtual Center of Excellence in Bioenergy (CoE) is an initiative of Unica in partnership with the Association of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). In 2022, the entities signed a memorandum of understanding to promote ethanol in both countries and contribute technical information so that other nations, with a vocation for this agroindustry, can develop the technology. SIAM is also the coordinator of the Ethanol Pavilion at Auto Expo 2023.

"Our partnership with SIAM has been extremely fruitful in ensuring the success of the ethanol program in India. We are extremely happy to dedicate CoE to India and hope that it will help all stakeholders acquire up-to-date information on technological advances, technical standards, regulations, public policies and sustainability related to biomass and bioenergy," said Eduardo Leão de Sousa, Executive Director of Unica.

SIAM President Vinod Aggarwal said the CoE launch will support and complement governments' efforts to promote bioenergy, biofuels and other bio-based fuels for low-carbon mobility in India and Brazil. "We are confident that CoE will help stakeholders understand the ethanol and technologies available to enable a smooth and efficient transition," Aggarwal said. "We would like to thank Unica for their support and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership," he added.

The presentation of the Center of Excellence gained an exclusive and prominent space in the Brazilian booth. The Brazil space at Auto Expo 2023 is promoted by Unica (Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Union), APLA (Local Alcohol Productive Arrangement), ApexBrasil (Brazilian Agency for The Promotion of Exports and Investments) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy of Brazil in India.

The area has 250 square meters and brings together three sections, in which the visitor can interact with elements developed to bring experiences and knowledge about the benefits of ethanol to the environment, people's health and to improve air quality in cities.

Brazil-India Bilaterals

Last week, Unica and the APLA also participated in an intense agenda of meetings to strengthen cooperation between countries in the area of bioenergy. Among the bilaterals, there is a meeting with the Sous Sherpa of India at the G20, Abhay Thakur, and with representatives of the Department of Food and Public Distribution of the Government of India.

The dialogue, accompanied by representatives of the Brazilian Embassy in India, stimulated greater collaboration between the two countries in the area of ethanol and biofuels. "We had excellent meetings, both with the government and with the private sector. All highlighted the importance of Brazil's support in the advances of the ethanol program, an agenda that brings great opportunities for Indian industry," said APLA Executive Director Flávio Castellari.

Source: RPA news