Page 148 - CW E-Magazine (13-8-2024)

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REDUCING EMISSIONS

Sugar industry body commits to help meet India’s

aviation fuel blending target

A sugar industry body has ex- ries. Such a transition will help boost India’s net-zero and self-reliance goals.
pressed its readiness to extend support production of sustainable aviation fuel He said the plan presented by ISMA
to the government so that India is able and other green energy sources, ISMA aims to create alternative markets for
to meet international aviation blending said. India’s estimated 55-million sugarcane
targets, which are set to take effect from farmers, building on the success of the
2027 under Carbon Offsetting and Representatives of ISMA met current ethanol blending programme in
Reduction Scheme for International Mr. Joshi to discuss a policy framework increasing farmer incomes.
Aviation (CORSIA) mandate. for the transition to expand beyond
current thrust on ethanol, bioelectricity ISMA has pledged to work closely
According to a statement by the and biogas towards production of with the government on the swift im-
Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufac- sustainable aviation fuel, green hydrogen, plementation of the bio-refi nery plan,
turers Association (ISMA), Food Minis- E-100 and 2-G ethanol. which is expected to set new bench-
ter Pralhad Joshi has been told by the marks in the sector and strengthen
industry body on the need of a plan to ISMA’s Director-General Mr. Deepak India’s energy security, the ISMA
transform sugar mills into bio-refi ne- Ballani said the initiative would help statement said.
LOWERING CARBON INTENSITY

Government pushes for affordable green steel

with new consortium

A consortium led by the Institute of the cost of a 0.5-mtpa hydrogen-based increased use of hydrogen and carbon
Minerals and Management Technology DRI plant from Rs. 800-crore to capture technologies in steel produc-
(IMMT) is keen to pilot the country’s Rs. 400-crore to make it more affordable tion. India aims to reduce the carbon
fi rst green steelmaking initiative using for steel fi rms. intensity in steel production.
a 100% hydrogen-based Direct Reduc-
tion Iron (DRI) production method. In addition, the government is In June, the Steel Ministry fl oat-
developing a decarbonisation roadmap ed tenders under the National Green
The cost of imported technology to reduce the steel sector’s carbon Hydrogen Mission, with an outlay of
remains a signifi cant hurdle for adop- footprint, which accounts for 12% of Rs. 455-crore, seeking industry partici-
tion to green steel, in the transition India’s total emissions, by about 20% pation to pilot green steel-making.
period, the government has asked tech- from the current 2.5 tonnes of carbon The fund will provide partial support for
nology provider, Danieli, to reduce per tonne of steel. The plan includes the project.

PROJECT PROGRESS
Exide Industries’ lithium-ion cell project phase-I to

be completed by FY25

Exide Industries is on track to com- Responding to shareholder queries (GWh) lithium-ion plant would be
plete construction of the fi rst phase at the company’s annual general meet- constructed in two phases of 6-GWh
of its lithium-ion cell manufacturing ing, Mr. Avik Roy, Managing Director each. “The fi rst phase is expected to be
project in Bengaluru by the end of this (MD) and Chief Executive Offi cer completed by the end of this fi nancial
fi nancial year (FY25). (CEO) said that the 12-gigawatt hours year, that is, March 2025,” he said.

148 Chemical Weekly August 13, 2024

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