OUAT-BPCL to promote bio-fuel in Odisha

A ‘Biofuel Chair’ would be set up in OUAT to conduct research for screening of best agricultural crops and develop new agricultural varieties which can yield more cellulose content.

BPCL will provide a financial support of Rs 5 crore to OUAT for effective utilisation of paddy straw for biofuel production in a bio chemical enzymatic process.

Out of the total budget allocation, Rs 2 crore will be used as a corpus for BPCL chair and Rs 3 crore as research contingency for development, establishment and popularization of the bio-fuel production technology, said an official.

This endeavour is in line with the policy decision for supplementation of 10% straw based ethanol for increasing fuel efficiency and reducing the pressure on fossil fuel.
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said OUAT will support BPCL in strengthening technical support for ensuring smooth functioning of 2G Ethanol Bio-Refinery at Bargarh in Odisha.

“We should promote and extend support for Agri-Business in Odisha and reach new markets across the globe. This would empower our younger generation and enhance the income of youths and farmers,” said Pradhan.

The large acreage and production of rice in the state has provided ample of opportunities to excel in promotion of rice straw based bio-fuel production.
Odisha is the secondary origin of rice. Being the staple food, rice is growing in all the agro-climatic zones of the state.

At present, Odisha has the annual rice production of 85 lakh tonnes with approximate production of 100 lakh tonnes of rice straw. Except use as fodder and few domestic purposes, there is almost no economic utilization of rice straw.

Now, it has become a prime necessity to think of alternative economic utilization of rice straw.