Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) has secured environmental permit for an ethanol production plant in the Panipat district of Haryana state, India’s Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Twitter.

According to IOCL’s website, the capacity of the new facility will be 100 kilo litres per day (KLPD) and the project cost is estimated at INR 9.1 billion (USD 127.4m/EUR 115.4m). Local media reports say the investment will be of INR 7.66 billion. The plant will use lignocellulosic biomass as feedstock.

IOCL has another biofuel project in Panipat, but it is for third-generation ethanol made through the conversion of hydrogen off-gas using gas fermentation technology.

Under its new biofuel policy, India aims to reach 20% ethanol in petrol by 2030 with an interim goal of 10% by 2022. Ethanol supply, however, cannot meet demand for now.

 

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