Biofuels to complement, not replace fossil fuels at least until 2040: BPCL's ED Saraogi
Mumbai, July 1
Fossil fuels will continue to play a dominant role in meeting India's energy needs over the next 10-15 years, with biofuels and other alternative energy sources expected to complement rather than replace them, according to Anurag Saraogi, Executive Director, BPCL.
Speaking to ANI, Saraogi said biofuels have emerged as an integral component of the global energy security framework, with countries pursuing multiple pathways to achieve energy transition.
"Biofuels are an integral component of the global energy security platform. There are multiple energy transition paths which are being followed, and biofuels are one of them," he said.
Highlighting India's progress in the sector, Saraogi said the country has made significant strides in ethanol blending since beginning the programme in 2003 and has now achieved the milestone of 20 per cent ethanol blending.
"India is also not new to adopting it. There is a huge ethanol journey that India has taken since 2003," he said.
He added that India is also advancing in the compressed biogas segment, backed by various government initiatives, while discussions are underway to promote sustainable aviation fuel for the aviation sector.
"In compressed biogas also, we are moving ahead, and there are a lot of available schemes which are available to prosper... there is a dialogue about sustainable aviation fuel for the aviation side also," he said.
Saraogi, however, underlined that biofuels and other clean energy sources are unlikely to displace fossil fuels in the foreseeable future. Instead, they will increasingly complement the conventional energy basket as the transition gathers pace.
"India has already done 20 per cent of ethanol blending... right up to 2035-2040, this journey of biofuels or any other alternative energy would not be so much that it replaces the fossil fuels," he said, indicating that fossil fuels will continue to remain a key part of the energy mix for the next 10-15 years while biofuels gain a larger share.
— ANI
Reader Comments
A pragmatic take from BPCL. The transition won't happen overnight, and biofuels are a great bridge solution. India's ethanol program is impressive — 20% blending is a huge milestone many countries haven't reached.
Good to hear about compressed biogas and sustainable aviation fuel too. But we need more investment in R&D and better distribution networks. Rural areas still face shortages — hope this isn't just city-centric progress. 🤔
Fair point — we can't just switch off fossil fuels overnight. But 2040 is a long way off. The world is moving faster on EVs and renewables. Hope we don't get left behind while being 'pragmatic'. Jugaad only goes so far.
Interesting perspective from an Indian energy major. Biofuels make sense for a country like India — they support agriculture, reduce import bills, and are relatively easy to scale. The aviation fuel bit is exciting too ✈️
Respectfully, this sounds like a typical oil company line — 'complement not replace' means delaying real change. We've been hearing this for decades. With climate deadlines approaching, India should aim higher, even if it's harder. Our kids deserve better.
Ethanol blending is a good start
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