BENGALURU (Reuters) - India's proposal for a biofuels alliance to promote cleaner fuels has attracted interest from several countries, including Russia and Brazil, Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday.

Puri announced last October that India, the world's third-largest oil consumer, would use its G20 presidency to try to establish an international biofuels alliance.

The focus on biofuels also aims to help India's transition to alternative fuels and reduce its import bill as it aims to achieve its zero-carbon net emissions target by 2070.

"Many, many countries are interested," Puri told reporters at an India Energy Week event in bengaluru city in the south. 

India's plans to establish a biofuels alliance mirror the International Solar Alliance launched by New Delhi and Paris in 2015 to bring clean and affordable solar energy within reach of all.

India imports about 85% of its crude oil needs, but is gradually building capacity to increase its biofuel production. The country plans to build 12 biorefineries to produce fuel from items such as crop waste, plant waste and municipal solid waste.

Puri said the proposed biofuels alliance is not restricted only to producers and that any country can join. 

"It can be to share experiences or anything... if your question is whether (the alliance) is starting well, my answer is excellent," Puri said.

Source: Uol Economia