NITI Aayog to Host International Methanol Seminar

NITI Aayog is gearing up to host the Second International Methanol Seminar and Expo 2024 on October 17-18, 2024, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. This two-day event is a significant part of India’s Methanol Economy Programme, initiated in 2016 in collaboration with the Methanol Institute, USA.

The seminar will bring together global experts, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss the future of methanol as a low-carbon fuel and its role in the world energy transition. Additionally, a concurrent Methanol Expo will showcase cutting-edge technologies and innovations in methanol production, storage, and utilization.

Key Highlights

Event Details

• The Second International Methanol Seminar and Expo will be held on October 17-18, 2024, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

Methanol Economy Programme

• This event is part of India’s ongoing Methanol Economy Programme, launched in September 2016 by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Methanol Institute, USA.

Focus Areas

• The seminar will focus on the role of methanol in the global energy transition.
• Discussions will emphasize the rise of methanol as a low-carbon fuel, especially in green shipping.

Collaboration

• NITI Aayog is partnering with the Methanol Institute, USA, as a knowledge partner for this event.

Government Initiatives

The Government of India has supported various R&D projects related to methanol production, such as:

• Conversion of high-ash coal to methanol.

• DME (Dimethyl Ether) production.

• Conversion of diesel engines to operate on methanol blends (MD15).

• Methanol applications in cooking and process heating.

Methanol Expo

• Alongside the seminar, the Expo will display advanced technologies and innovations in methanol production, storage, and application.

Industry Participation 

Key Indian industries such as Kirloskar, Ashok Leyland, BHEL, NTPC, and others will showcase technologies like:

• 100% methanol buses, trucks, and LCVs.
• Generators, fuel cells, boilers, and gas turbines.

Global Engagement

• Experts and speakers from about a dozen countries will participate, both physically and virtually.

About NITI AAYOG

• The Planning Commission was replaced by a new institution – NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog on January 1, 2015 with emphasis on ‘Bottom –Up’ approach to envisage the vision of Maximum Governance, Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of ‘Cooperative Federalism’.

Composition

• Chairperson: Prime Minister
• Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by Prime-Minister
• Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
• Regional Council: To address specific regional issues, Comprising Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors Chaired by the Prime Minister or his nominee.
• Adhoc Membership: 2 members in ex-officio capacity from leading Research institutions on rotational basis.
• Ex-Officio membership: Maximum four from the Union council of ministers to be nominated by the Prime minister.
• Chief Executive Officer: Appointed by Prime-minister for a fixed tenure, in rank of Secretary to Government of India.
• Special Invitees: Experts, Specialists with domain knowledge nominated by the Prime-minister.

NITI Aayog Hubs

• Team India Hub acts as an interface between States and Centre.
• Knowledge and Innovation Hub builds the think-tank acumen of NITI Aayog.
• The Aayog planned to come out with three documents — a 3-year action agenda, 7-year medium-term strategy paper and 15-year vision document.

Importance of NITI Aayog

• The 65 year-old Planning Commission had become a redundant organization. It was relevant in a command economy structure, but not any longer.
• India is a diversified country and its states are in various phases of economic development along with their own strengths and weaknesses.
• In this context, a ‘one size fits all’ approach to economic planning is obsolete. It cannot make India competitive in today’s global economy.

Key Objectives

• To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation.
• To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government.
• To ensure, in areas that are specifically referred to, that the interests of national security are incorporated in economic strategy and policy.
• To pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress.
• To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like-minded Think Tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.
• To create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners.
• To offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda.
• To maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Centre, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their dissemination to stake-holders.