Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is taking a significant step towards environmental protection and reducing pollution by promoting the use of 2G ethanol. A presentation was made by Midwest Energy Company at Lok Seva Bhawan, where the company proposed setting up an ethanol plant in Odisha and promoting its use as fuel.
The company representative, Prabhakar Reddy, discussed the potential of using ethanol-blended fuel in boats plying in Chilika Lake. This initiative aligns with the Central Government’s target of using 5% ethanol in diesel by 2030, and Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo expressed confidence that Odisha will work towards achieving this goal.
The 2G ethanol will be produced using crop stubble, such as paddy straw, which is often burnt, causing pollution. The company plans to purchase crop residues from farmers, providing them with an additional source of income. This initiative will not only reduce pollution but also generate indirect employment opportunities for farmers, strengthen the rural economy, and reduce manual labor.
The project has the potential to utilise crop residues from various crops, including sugarcane, maize, and bajra, to produce ethanol. The Odisha government is keen on promoting this initiative, and senior officials, including Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, Law and Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, and Industries Minister Sampada Chandra Swain, were present during the presentation.
Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of Energy Department Vishal Deb, Tourism Commissioner and Secretary Balwant Singh, MD EPCL Bhupendra Singh Punia were also present.
