Government to allow up to 35% bio-bitumen mixing, to save ₹10,000 crore of foreign exchange outflows
The Hindu
Nitin Gadkari discusses the benefits of bio-bitumen, including reduced imports, emissions, and economic opportunities for farmers and MSMEs.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday (August 7, 2024) said the government will allow mixing of lignin up to 35% in petroleum-based bitumen, a large part of which is imported from other countries.
Bitumen is a black substance produced through the distillation of crude oil and is widely used for making roads and roofs.
“We have the largest road network in the world. 90% of roads are using bituminous layers. Bitumen consumption in 2023-24 was 88 lakh tonnes. In 2024-25 it is expected to be 100 lakh tonnes. 50% of the bitumen is imported. And annual import cost is ₹25,000-30,000 crore,” Mr. Gadkari said while replying to questions in Rajya Sabha.
The minister said the farmers are now not only producing foodgrains, but they have become energy producers. Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, had developed bio-bitumen from paddy straw.
The minister expressed concern that there is a problem of air pollution in Delhi due to stubble burning.
“One tonne of parali (paddy straw) is giving 30% of bio-bitumen, 350 kg of bio-gas and 350 kg of biochar,” he said, adding that substitution of up to 35% bio-bitumen into bitumen is successful. “The foreign exchange saving is expected to be ₹10,000 crore and a patent has been already submitted,” the minister said.
He informed that the cost of petroleum-based bitumen is ₹50 per kg while the cost of bio-bitumen from biomass (rice straw) is ₹40 per kg.
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