HYDERABAD: By putting the chemical methanol, also known as methyl alcohol to best use, the overall import cost of our country on fuels can be reduced flat by 50 per cent, stated Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, member of NITI Aayog and former DG of DRDO. He was speaking at the 74th foundation day celebrations of CSIR — Indian Institute of Chemical Technology to a packed auditorium on — Methanol Economy. Among other advantages, the scientist also said, residues of methanol are harmless when compared to any other fuel and there will be no addition to global warming that is on the rise in this time.
“We, in India do not use methanol at all. We have only started using ethanol 15 years ago. Meanwhile, methanol is not listed as a fuel, but only as a chemical and we have sent recommendations to government to look into adapting this as an alternative fuel,” he said.
Explaining how it is also a cheaper investment, he said, methanol can be created out of jungle residues. “It is available anywhere at the cost of Rs16 per litre. Also, India has a rich source of coal. For instance, in TS, we can set up a methanol creating base at Singereni coal mines. Most states in the country can be transformed on the same lines,” he added. On the other hand, ethanol is created from molasses, a product of refined sugar cane. From households to industrial set ups, everyone can switch to using methanol and can contribute to bringing down our import cost, he said.
“Rural households which depend on wood can also switch to this with no side effects. In fact, it is less harmful than coal, wood or scattered waste that is used. As part of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, many came forward to give up their subsidy on LPG. This too can be replaced as it is available freely,” said the Padmabhushan awardee who initiated development of technologies for security of energy in the country.