India needs alternate fuels such as biofuels and hydrogen because of the growing gap between oil demand and supply and the need to decrease reliance on hydrocarbons, India's minister of new and renewable energy Mr. Vilas Muttemwar said in Brussels on July 5. "India has been among the world leaders in the deployment of news and renewable energy. Over these years, the contribution of renewable energy has increased significantly in our country, meeting about 15 percent of the electricity needs," he told delegates at the International conference on Biofuels hosted by the European Commission. "Incidentally, 100 percent foreign direct investment in new and renewable energy is allowed under the automatic route in India" Muttemwar said. The biofuels programme in India is to be developed on public-private partnerships, which would promote biofuel plantations on government, community and private lands, declared the Indian minister. "We look forward to working with the European Union and all participating countries for achieving our biofuel aims and targets," he said.

Source: http://www.neurope.eu