Karnataka, which ranks third in the country in ethanol production, has set a target of elevating itself to the second position by the end of the year.
Y.B. Ramakrishna, Executive Chairman, Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board, told presspersons here that presently Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are ahead of the State in total quantum of ethanol production. The State will step up ethanol production from 135 million litres a year to 200 million litres a year from molasses.
Presently, the local consumption of ethanol is about 35 million litres and the rest is being exported to Kerala and Maharashtra, as only 5 per cent of ethanol was allowed to be blended with petrol. Karnataka had been requesting the Centre to permit ethanol blending up to 10 per cent as it had huge production capacity.
Mr. Ramakrishna said the Bangalore International Airport Limited, which is presently operating about 15 of its ground transport vehicles on ethanol blending of 20 per cent, was expected to run all its ground transport vehicles on biofuel by this year-end. The BIAL had also agreed to the Board’s request to operate its fleet of 1,400 airport taxis on ethanol.
The State would soon have its first ethanol retail outlet with the BPCL getting ready to set up such an outlet at Madenur in Hassan, he said. The ethanol for the BPCL would be provided by the Biofuel park of the State government that has come up there. The park has the capacity to produce 300 litres of ethanol a day, he said.
Similarly, the Board wanted to increase the number of KSRTC buses being run on ethanol blending from the present 2,200 to 5,000 this year, he said.
Biofuel mela
The Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board will organise a three-day biofuel mela from August 10 — World Biofuel Day — to create awareness about the importance of biofuel and also to showcase the State’s achievements in this sector as well as latest technologies available.
Mr. Ramakrishna said the mela, which would be held on the campus of the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat in Bangalore will have several stage events, demonstrations, exhibitions, film shows, cultural events based on biofuel theme.
Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Chhattisgarh and Rural Development Minister will participate at the inaugural session, he said.
The Education Department had issued a circular to all schools asking them to take up various competitions for children in the field of biofuel in July, he said. About 1,000 children would take part in various essay writing and painting competitions on the occasion, he said.
