Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the National Sugar Institute (NSI), Kanpur, have formalized a partnership to accelerate research and development in sweet sorghum-based bioethanol production. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two organizations on February 17.

This collaboration signifies a major step towards bolstering India's ethanol blended petrol program and aligns with national objectives to increase biofuel adoption while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. BPCL has pledged INR 5 crores (approximately $5.75 million) to fuel the research and development efforts under this partnership. The funding will be directed towards optimizing sweet sorghum yields, refining agricultural practices, and enhancing juice extraction and fermentation techniques to maximize ethanol output. Furthermore, the project will explore the utilization of residual biomass to produce compressed biogas (CBG) and other value-added applications, ensuring a holistic and sustainable approach to bioenergy development.

Sweet sorghum presents a compelling alternative to traditional ethanol feedstocks like sugarcane and corn. Its inherent advantages include water efficiency and a rapid growth cycle, making it an environmentally and economically sound choice. This initiative is expected to significantly contribute to India’s energy security, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and generate economic opportunities for rural communities.

NSI, renowned for its expertise in the sugar and allied industries, has already demonstrated the potential of sweet sorghum for bioethanol production at its in-house facility. With this successful demonstration, NSI is now partnering with an industrial entity like BPCL to scale up the technology and bring it to commercial viability. The collaboration will leverage NSI’s research capabilities and BPCL’s extensive resources and market reach to achieve this objective.

The joint venture will encompass a range of activities, including field trials to assess the performance of sweet sorghum under various conditions, technology evaluations to optimize the production process, and comprehensive studies on commercial viability to ensure the project's long-term sustainability. The ultimate goal is to establish a robust and scalable sweet sorghum-based ethanol production system that can be replicated across the country.

This partnership between BPCL and NSI is not an isolated event. It forms part of a larger push by the Indian government to promote sustainable energy solutions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The Minister emphasized that these agreements, including other recent collaborations in the energy sector, reaffirm India’s commitment to securing affordable, sustainable, and diversified energy supplies while fostering global collaborations in cutting-edge energy solutions.