SCO Countries Agree to Closely Work Together on Emerging Fuels
by Subhayan Chakraborty (Business Standard) Move will see China, Russia, others collaborate with India on emerging fuel tech, energy modelling, and transition goals — In India, while the list of alternative fuel resources includes agriculture and forest residue, municipal solid waste, and cow dung, the government’s main target is ethanol
Nations belonging to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have agreed to work closely together on emerging fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia, and biofuels like ethanol, at a meeting of energy ministers of the grouping on Tuesday.
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The grouping has also agreed to consider the possibility of developing joint emerging fuel projects for connecting major emerging fuel-producing and consuming countries. It will also allow for greater information exchange in the field of energy modelling.
The SCO is a political, economic, and security alliance of eight nations, historically led by Russia and China. It is considered the most important conclave in the Central Asian region, where other nations have a significant interest in trade, connectivity, and resource extraction.
The SCO comprises nine countries: China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
India assumed the rotational annual Presidency of the SCO last year — only the sixth summit India participates in as a full-fledged member.
Candidates for biofuel alliance
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said after the meeting that SCO nations have opted for a continued engagement rather than a standalone, one-time discussion. As a result, the grouping will be opened up for signatures on the proposed Global Biofuel Alliance, currently being pushed by India.
New Delhi will formally launch a global alliance on biofuels with like-minded nations before the Group of Twenty leaders’ summit in September, Puri had said earlier.
The government has underscored achieving energy security of the country with the expressed aim of reducing import dependence. It envisages a strategic role for biofuels in the Indian energy basket.
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Before it holds the SCO summit on June 25 in Delhi, the government will be holding a series of SCO ministerial meetings throughout the year. As the latest member, Iran will attend the group as a member rather than as an observer for the first time under India’s Presidency. READ MORE
Expert for promotion of biofuel technology (Daily Times)
Excerpt from Daily Times: Chairman Department of Chemistry, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), Prof. Dr. Abdul Majeed Khan on Tuesday called for the promotion of bio-fuel technology so that Pakistan can also join the countries achieved growth in biofuel technology. READ MORE
