What is BIO PETROL?

• Bioethanol, commonly referred to as biofuel or simply ethanol, is a type of renewable fuel that is produced from biomass, typically crops like corn, sugarcane, or cellulose-rich materials such as wood chips and agricultural residues.

• It is an alternative to conventional gasoline and is considered a cleaner and more sustainable fuel source. Bioethanol can be used as an additive to gasoline (E10, E15, E85, etc.) or as a standalone fuel in specially designed flex-fuel vehicles.

• Bioethanol is primarily produced through the fermentation of sugars and starches found in plant materials. This fermentation process involves the conversion of these sugars into ethanol using microorganisms like yeast.

• Bioethanol is considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gasoline because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and decreases reliance on fossil fuels.

Process

Bioethanol is just one example of biofuels, and the field of renewable fuels continues to evolve as scientists and engineers work to develop more sustainable and efficient alternatives to traditional fossil fuels.

The process typically involves the following steps:

• Harvesting and processing the feedstock to extract sugars or starches.

• Fermenting the sugars or starches using yeast or bacteria to convert them into ethanol.

• Distilling and refining the ethanol to produce fuel-grade bioethanol.

Government has emphasized on achieving energy security of the country with a target of reducing import dependence i.e. usage of fossil fuels. The growing concern about the import dependence for fuel requirement in tandem with environmental pollution issues have driven the need for alternative fuels that have superior environment benefits and are economically competitive with fossil fuel.

The government has been implementing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program throughout the country except for the Union Territories of Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands, wherein OMCs sell petrol blended with 10% ethanol.