Minister of petroleum & natural gas, skill development and entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan has asked Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik to allocate land for setting upan ethanol bio-refinery plant at Bargarh district in Odisha.

To support the ethanol blended petrol (EBP) programme, oil PSUs have decided to build 12 second generation (2G) ethanol bio-refineries in 11 states including Odisha as an effective tool for development of rural economy.

Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme is being implemented by the centre to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels. It is also aimed to reduce import dependency for energy requirements and provide necessary boost to the agriculture sector.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) is establishing one such plant at Baulsingha village in Bargarh district with an investment of Rs 750 crores. It has already appointed a consultant for early commencement of developmental activities at the site.

However, BPCL, after repeated requests to Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) for allocation of land in November last year, is yet to get the land from Odisha government.  

With the setting up of this bio-refinery, there will be an increase in the overall economic activity in the surrounding area. The refinery will also necessitate setting up of around 10 decentralised biomass collection depots in a radius of 50 km.

There will be quantum jump in the labour and transportation activities from the agricultural fields to the biomass collection depots to the bio-refinery and movement of finished product. The demand for equipment such as compacters, loaders, tractor trolleys will also rise. During the construction of the bio-refinery, employment opportunities will also be created for the locals.