Trade body urges boosting ethanol production

The Sattur Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Madurai, India has urged the Union Government to encourage the production and use of ethanol as alternative fuel. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chamber Secretary P.T.K.A. Balasubramanian pointed to the alarming rise in crude oil prices and suggested the production of engines that can run on ethanol and promoting the production and use of ethanol as alternative fuel. Only 30% of oil demand is met from domestic sources and the rest is imported using foreign exchange. (May 19, 2008)