India approves biofuel policy

India’s national biofuel policy, aimed at facilitating development of indigenous biomass feedstock for production of biofuels, has been cleared by the Cabinet. The draft policy was prepared by the Ministry of New and Renewable energy (MNRE), the coordinating ministry for biofuel development, in 2008. The policy has proposed an indicative target of 20% blending of biofuels– biodiesel and bioethanol–by 2017. The biofuel policy has also proposed financial incentives, including subsidies and grants, for second generation biofuels like cellulosic ethanol and algal biodiesel. (December 25, 2009)