BPCL and National Sugar Institute Collaborate to Advance Sweet Sorghum as a Sustainable Biofuel Source

BPCL to Allocate INR 5 Crores for Research & Development in Bioethanol Production

NEW DELHI, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), an eminent integrated energy provider in India, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Sugar Institute (NSI) in Kanpur to collaboratively develop sweet sorghum as an eco-friendly feedstock for bioethanol production. This strategic alliance supports India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme and aligns with the government's objectives to promote biofuels and diminish reliance on fossil fuels.

The MoU was signed by Shri Chandrasekhar N, Head (R&D) at BPCL, and Smt. Seema Paroha, Director of NSI, Kanpur, in the presence of Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon'ble Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India and Shri G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL.

BPCL's Dedication to Promoting Biofuels

BPCL has pledged INR 5 crores to support research and development initiatives within this partnership. The funding will optimise sweet sorghum yields, enhance agricultural practices, and create efficient juice extraction and fermentation methods to boost ethanol production. Additionally, this collaboration will examine the use of leftover biomass for compressed biogas (CBG) and other value-added applications, promoting a comprehensive approach to bioenergy use.

A Sustainable Path for India's Energy Future

Sweet sorghum, recognized for its water efficiency and rapid growth cycle, presents a promising alternative to conventional ethanol feedstocks like sugarcane and corn. This initiative is set to significantly enhance India's energy security, foster sustainable agriculture, and uplift rural economies.

Shri G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director of BPCL, highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, "Developing sweet sorghum as a biofuel feedstock marks a significant stride towards a cleaner and more sustainable future. Our collaboration with NSI aims to establish a dependable and scalable ethanol production framework that benefits our energy sector and farmers alike."

Smt. Seema Paroha, Director of NSI, Kanpur, remarked, "NSI has been a leader in bioethanol research, and this partnership with BPCL will facilitate the application of our innovations, enhancing India's renewable energy landscape."

Moving Forward

Through this partnership, BPCL and NSI will perform field trials, technology evaluations, and studies on commercial viability to establish a robust sweet sorghum-based ethanol production system. This collaboration is anticipated to set new standards for sustainable biofuel development in India.

About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):

Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Bharat Petroleum's Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, fuel stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 22,000+ Fuel Stations, over 6,250 LPG distributorships, 525 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 54 LPG Bottling Plants, 63 Aviation Service Stations, 5 Lube blending plants and 4 cross-country pipelines as on 31.08.2024.

Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has chalked out the plan to offer electric vehicle charging stations at around 7000 Fuel Stations over the next 5 years.

With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing an ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting several initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With 'Energising Lives' as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum's vision is to be an admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology.