The Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Ethanol Association (GEA) to promote ethanol as a sustainable green fuel, with a primary focus on the marine sector. In addition, the collaboration will support ethanol applications in road transport and civil aviation, reinforcing the role of biofuels in the global energy transition. The MoU marks an important step toward closer international cooperation in bioenergy and low-carbon fuels, particularly in addressing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors such as maritime transport.

Agreement Signals Deeper International Collaboration

The agreement was formally signed by Sanjay Ganjoo, Director General of IFGE, and Morten Jacobsen, Secretary General of GEA. Through the partnership, both organisations aim to accelerate the adoption of ethanol as a commercially viable and environmentally sustainable fuel option. Moreover, the collaboration aligns with global decarbonisation goals by supporting low-carbon solutions for shipping while extending its impact to automobiles and aviation.

Focus on Innovation, Policy, and Market Development

Under the MoU, IFGE and GEA will jointly work to advance ethanol as a viable marine fuel to support the decarbonisation of global shipping. The partnership will prioritise innovation, policy advocacy, and market development, ensuring that ethanol-based solutions gain broader acceptance across multiple transport segments.

In parallel, GEA will share its global expertise, including research publications, technical assessments, and international best practices. Both organisations will also undertake joint promotional and advocacy initiatives to highlight ethanol’s potential as a clean, scalable, and cost-effective fuel.

Industry Leaders Highlight Strategic Importance

Atul Mulay, Chairman of the IFGE BioEnergy Committee and President of Praj Industries, described the MoU as a major step in building international market linkages for ethanol, particularly in emerging applications such as marine fuels. He further noted that the collaboration will unlock new business opportunities and open global markets for IFGE members and Indian companies across the entire ethanol value chain.

GEA Backs India’s Green Energy Ambitions

GEA Secretary General Morten Jacobsen termed the partnership a pivotal milestone in advancing global decarbonisation efforts. He emphasised that GEA is keen to support India’s rapidly expanding green energy sector and help IFGE and its members access emerging international markets for Indian-produced sustainable fuels. According to Jacobsen, the collaboration will strengthen global cooperation and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy solutions in maritime transport, civil aviation, and road mobility. He also highlighted that GEA’s founding members are fully aligned with this vision and remain committed to positioning ethanol as a cornerstone of a low-carbon transportation future.

Joint Knowledge Sharing to Build Ethanol Ecosystem

As part of the collaboration, IFGE will actively engage with GEA to evaluate market opportunities and assess the feasibility of ethanol-based green energy solutions in India and overseas markets. Additionally, the two organisations will jointly conduct knowledge-sharing initiatives, including workshops, seminars, and stakeholder consultations. As reported by bioenergytimes.com, these engagements will bring together policymakers, industry experts, ship owners, port authorities, fuel suppliers, and other key stakeholders to strengthen the ethanol-based marine fuel ecosystem and accelerate its adoption globally.

The Board of Directors of Tanfac Industries Limited approved the establishment of a new downstream fluorinated chemicals manufacturing facility, involving a total investment of ₹495 crore. Anupam Rasayan India Limited and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) promote Tanfac Industries, a joint sector chemicals company.

Facility to Be Located at Cuddalore

The company will develop the new facility at its existing manufacturing site in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, to enable seamless integration with current operations. The company plans to commission the plant, with an installed capacity of 20,000 tons per annum, by November 2026. To support the project, the company plans to fund the investment through a combination of equity and debt. The company commented that the project aligns with its long-term growth strategy and will expand its downstream fluorinated chemicals portfolio.

Management View on Strategic Expansion

Afzal Malkani, Managing Director, said the investment will play a key role in strengthening Tanfac’s downstream capabilities. “The investment is intended to support our planned expansion into the downstream fluorinated chemicals segment. Developing the facility at the existing Cuddalore location will allow us to leverage and integrate current infrastructure efficiently,” he said.

Board Clears Fundraising Plan

The Board approved a proposal to raise up to ₹500 crore through the issuance of equity shares via a qualified institutional placement (QIP) or other permissible routes, as reported by thehindubusinessline.com, in addition to the manufacturing expansion. The fundraising plan remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) bagged a major order from Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL), a joint venture between BHEL and Coal India Limited (CIL), reinforcing its role in India’s coal gasification and chemicals value chain.

Scope Covers End-to-End Project Execution

The Letter of Acceptance (LoA) pertains to the coal gasification and raw syngas cleaning plant (LSTK-1 package) for BCGCL’s Coal-to-2000 TPD Ammonium Nitrate Project at Lakhanpur in Jharsuguda district, Odisha. Under the contract, BHEL will undertake complete project execution, including design, engineering, equipment supply, civil works, erection, commissioning, and operation and maintenance (O&M) services.

Project Value and Timelines

The total contract value stands at approximately ₹5,400 crore, excluding GST. The project is scheduled for completion within 42 months, covering preliminary acceptance, commissioning, and performance guarantee tests. Following preliminary acceptance, BHEL will also provide O&M services for a period of 60 months, ensuring long-term operational reliability of the facility.

Boost to Coal Gasification and Chemical Production

As reported by projectstoday.com, the project marks a significant milestone in advancing coal gasification technology and ammonium nitrate production in India. Moreover, it supports the country’s efforts to enhance domestic chemical manufacturing capacity while leveraging indigenous engineering capabilities.

The government has strengthened regulatory measures to ensure fair pricing and uninterrupted distribution of Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, with the objective of safeguarding farmers’ interests and preventing market distortions. These steps reinforce the government’s commitment to maintaining affordability and availability across regions.

Profit Margins Capped to Prevent Overpricing

Under the existing guidelines, the government clarified that it will treat any profit earned beyond the prescribed limits as unreasonable and recover it from the concerned company. The government considers a profit margin of up to 8% for importers, 10% for manufacturers, and 12% for integrated manufacturers, calculated over the production cost of the final P&K product, to be reasonable.”

Mandatory Price Disclosure on Fertilizer Bags

To enhance transparency at the retail level, the government has mandated that every fertilizer bag must clearly display the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) along with the applicable subsidy per bag and per kilogram. Charging farmers more than the printed MRP constitutes an offence and attracts penal action under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the government said in a statement.

Real-Time Monitoring Through iFMS

At the same time, the government continues to closely monitor the production, movement, and import of fertilizers through the Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS). This web-based platform enables real-time tracking of fertilizer distribution, imports, and domestic manufacturing activities, ensuring greater accountability across the supply chain.

Suppliers Responsible for Last-Mile Delivery

In addition, all manufacturers, marketers, and importers of P&K fertilizers—including Single Super Phosphate (SSP) producers—must ensure delivery of fertilizers up to the retail point on a Freight on Road (F.O.R.) basis. This places the responsibility for transportation squarely on suppliers, thereby reducing delays and regional imbalances. As reported by chinimandi.com, to further strengthen coordination, the Department of Fertilizers (DoF) allocates fertilizer quantities based on assessed demand through a monthly supply plan and continuously tracks availability across states using the iFMS portal.

Engineers India Limited (EIL) celebrated its fourth EIL–R&D Day at the EIL Gurugram Complex, highlighting the organisation’s strong commitment to research, innovation, and technological excellence in the energy sector. The event brought together leadership, senior officials, and employees, reinforcing EIL’s organisation-wide focus on strengthening its R&D ecosystem.

Leadership Highlights Future R&D Roadmap

Vartika Shukla, Chairman and Managing Director of EIL, inaugurated the programme. Addressing the gathering, Vartika outlined EIL’s future R&D roadmap and emphasised the strategic importance of internationalising indigenous technologies to enhance India’s global competitiveness. She further stressed the need for collaborative innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies to effectively respond to evolving energy and infrastructure challenges.

Showcasing Innovation Through Knowledge Sharing

As part of the celebrations, EIL also released the tenth edition of its R&D newsletter, “Srijan-Vidha”. As reported by indianmasterminds.com, the publication highlights EIL’s ongoing research initiatives, recent technological advancements, and notable success stories across the energy and infrastructure sectors.

INOX Air Products (INOXAP), a player in industrial, electronic, and specialty gases in India, has flagged off the nation’s first LNG-fuelled cryogenic tanker. The tanker received approval from the Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce.

By leveraging the June 2025 amendment to the Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 2016, INOXAP has become the first industrial gas manufacturer in India to achieve this milestone, highlighting the government’s vision to promote LNG as a sustainable transport fuel.

Regulatory Milestone Enables Clean Transport

Sh P Seeniraj, Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, PESO Vadodara Circle, officially flagged off the tanker. It features a 450-litre Kryopower LNG fuel tank, manufactured by INOX India Ltd, India’s largest cryogenic equipment manufacturer.

This innovation will deliver significant environmental and operational benefits:

*CO₂ emissions reduced by up to 25%

*Particulates cut by 95%

*Quieter and more efficient performance

*Long-term cost optimization and cleaner logistics

Pioneering Sustainable Industrial Logistics

Siddharth Jain, Director – INOX Group, said, “INOXAP is spearheading a clean-energy shift in India’s industrial gases sector by flagging off the nation’s first LNG-fuelled cryogenic tanker. This transformative step redefines sustainable logistics while strengthening supply chains for critical industries. We are grateful to DPIIT for enabling this through an extremely progressive policy amendment and PESO for providing the necessary statutory approvals.” He added that the achievement underscores the convergence of forward-looking policy, indigenous engineering excellence, and sustainable innovation. It sets a benchmark for global engineering leadership.

Green Innovation at Scale

INOXCVA’s LNG fuel tanks are already the most widely deployed in India’s industrial gas transport sector. As per the press release, this milestone shows INOXAP demonstrating scalable green solutions. These solutions support India’s manufacturing ecosystem and drive the transition to cleaner, more sustainable industrial logistics.

Even as experts debate the economic feasibility of small modular reactors (SMRs), one of India’s leading nuclear plant equipment manufacturer, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is confident the country can produce them at significantly lower costs than international players. “Off the cuff, I can say that India can produce SMRs at least 30 percent cheaper than global players,” said Anil V. Parab, Whole-Time Director and Senior Executive Vice President, L&T (Heavy Engineering).

Economic Viability Remains Under Scrutiny

The cost-effectiveness of SMRs has come under the spotlight following the enactment of the SHANTI Act, 2025, which allows private sector ownership and operation of nuclear power plants in India. Some experts, including former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr. Anil Kakodkar, caution that the economic viability of SMRs remains uncertain until large-scale orders are secured.

Parab emphasized L&T’s six decades of experience in the nuclear sector and noted that SMR costs vary depending on design. “There are around 80 SMR designs globally, and international players are quoting prices ranging from ₹50 crore to ₹100 crore per MW,” he explained.

How India Stands on Pricing

India’s established Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) currently cost around ₹15 crore per MW. While SMRs are inherently smaller and more complex, Parab estimates that India could manufacture them at approximately ₹30 crore per MW. He highlighted that large and small reactors share certain critical systems—such as control rods and boron injection mechanisms—spreading costs differently in SMRs.

Export Potential: Cautious Optimism

On the prospects of exporting SMRs, Parab remained measured. “There is enough to do in India,” he said, explaining that reactor exporters typically need to manage lifetime fuel supply arrangements. However, he noted that India’s PHWR technology is globally competitive, and rising international interest—especially from Asian countries—could create export opportunities.

He also suggested that the Department of Atomic Energy, which holds intellectual property for the Bharat Small Reactor, Bharat Small Modular Reactor, and High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor, could explore licensing the technology to foreign players.

Challenges in Financing and ‘Green’ Recognition

Parab pointed out that, despite opening the nuclear sector to private players, nuclear projects do not receive viability gap funding, unlike green hydrogen or electric vehicles. Additionally, GST on nuclear equipment is 18%, compared with 5% for other renewable energy technologies. Nuclear energy also lacks a formal ‘green’ classification, which limits access to green financing and incentives.

L&T May Explore Plant Ownership

When asked about owning nuclear plants, Parab said L&T is “keeping its options open.” While the company is primarily focused on engineering and construction, it sees strategic potential in co-locating power generation with data centres under its L&T Vyoma brand. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, given the high energy demands of data centres and AI infrastructure, owning or operating nuclear plants could become a logical extension.

WACKER has once again secured a top score of ‘A’ in the Climate category of CDP’s annual sustainability ratings for 2025, reaffirming the strength of its climate protection strategy. This recognition marks the third consecutive year that WACKER has achieved the highest possible rating in this category.

CDP is a global non-profit organization that assesses the transparency and environmental performance of companies across Climate, Water, and Forests through one of the world’s most influential investor questionnaires.

Independent Validation of Climate Strategy

Peter Gigler, Head of ESG at WACKER, said, “We have our sustainability performance independently audited by CDP every year. Therefore, we are very pleased that we were able to maintain our top rating for the third time in a row”. By consistently participating in CDP’s assessments, WACKER demonstrates its commitment to accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement in climate action.

CDP’s Role in Driving Sustainable Investment

Formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP aims to encourage companies and municipalities to disclose their environmental impacts in order to accelerate investment in a sustainable economy. To achieve this, CDP collects and evaluates data on emissions, environmental risks, targets, and transition strategies on behalf of global investors.

Participation in CDP assessments is voluntary and based on a standardized questionnaire covering Climate Change, Water Security, and Forests. The scoring system follows an American-style grading scale ranging from A (Leadership level) to F (Insufficient disclosure).

Among the World’s Climate Leaders

With its A rating in the Climate category, WACKER ranks among the top performers globally, standing out from more than 22,100 companies assessed worldwide. According to CDP, organizations achieving leadership status provide high-quality, comprehensive data and demonstrate credible plans for environmental transformation.

Strong Performance Across Water and Forests

In addition to its climate leadership, WACKER also reinforced its strong sustainability credentials in other categories. The company retained an A- (Leadership Level) rating in the Water category, matching its performance from the previous year. As per the press release, WACKER received a B (Management Level) rating in the Forests category. This reflects structured management and ongoing progress in this area.

VLS Environmental Solutions is strengthening its position in hazardous waste management through the acquisition of Merichem Company’s caustic services business. The move enhances VLS’ reach in the chemical and petrochemical sectors. It also reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability-driven solutions and the beneficial reuse of industrial waste.

Integrating Advanced Solutions for Industrial Clients

“This acquisition provides the most technically advanced beneficial reuse and caustic waste solutions to industrial and refinery markets,” said John Magee, CEO of VLS Environmental Solutions. “By integrating Merichem’s portfolio, we can now offer an unmatched level of sustainable solutions for clients across multiple industries,” Magee added.

Kendra Lee, Chairman and CEO of Merichem, added, “We are thrilled to combine our heritage grounded in sustainability with VLS’ expansive operational reach to deliver even greater value and environmental benefits to our customers.” Under Lee’s leadership, Merichem has prioritized environmental stewardship, high performance, and exceptional customer service.

Meeting Evolving Regulatory and Sustainability Needs

Industrial clients face increasing regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. By integrating Merichem’s caustic services, VLS can now provide beneficial reuse options alongside traditional hazardous waste management. Chris Lobue, Executive Vice President of VLS’ Hazardous Waste Services division, explained, “The integration allows VLS to offer alternatives beyond hazardous waste disposal for specific by-product streams, including spent caustics and sulfur-laden by-products. This expansion ensures we meet the stringent regulatory and operational needs of our clients in the chemical and petrochemical industries.”

Strengthening VLS’ Market Leadership

As per the press release, this acquisition solidifies VLS Environmental Solutions’ leadership in sustainable hazardous waste solutions. It also broadens the company’s service portfolio to industrial and refinery clients worldwide. VLS and Merichem will set new standards in beneficial reuse and environmental stewardship. They will achieve this by combining their technical expertise with operational scale.

Ambitious plans to create a £1 billion company in the South of Scotland have received a major boost after South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) invested nearly £1 million in pioneering carbon capture firm The Carbon Removers. Headquartered near Dumfries, the company aims to expand its operations across the UK and Europe, leveraging this early-stage funding to catalyse a wider fundraising round.

Investment to Unlock Further Growth

Scaling Carbon Capture Across Industries

The Carbon Removers specializes in capturing CO₂ from biogas and the whisky industry. The company is rapidly expanding to tackle hard-to-abate emissions as it deploys its technology internationally. Notably, it is the only UK company licensed to permanently store carbon in Denmark and participates in the EU’s first CO₂ storage facility.

Strong Leadership and Regional Roots

Founded by brothers Ed and Richard Nimmons, The Carbon Removers remains proudly based in the South of Scotland. Richard Nimmons said, “We are delighted to be expanding our close working relationship with SOSE and the region. We are proud to be based in the South of Scotland and excited to grow our carbon capture expertise internationally.”

Support from Government and SOSE

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes emphasized the significance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) for Scotland’s transition to net zero. “CCS is crucial to reducing emissions from the hardest-to-abate sectors, including chemicals, cement, and certain power generation areas,” she said. “It uses many of the same skills as the oil and gas industry and will sustain skilled employment across the supply chain. It’s great to see SOSE supporting a home-grown company leading the charge both here and in Europe. This will create further jobs and boost the economy locally and nationally,” Forbes added.

Russel Griggs, Chair of SOSE, highlighted, “We have worked closely with The Carbon Removers from the very beginning, including their role in rolling out the Covid Pfizer vaccine. They have since grown into international carbon removal and storage, all from their original site in the small village of Crocketford. They demonstrate that rural locations are no barrier to innovation, and we look forward to their continued growth and success.”

Positioning for Global Impact