New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) India and Japan to establish a framework to promote biogas-powered vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen clean mobility and energy security, with the two countries targeting the expansion of methane production plants for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in India, a report has said.

A report published in The Japan Times said the two governments will exchange a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s three-day visit to India.

Under the proposed framework, India and Japan aim to increase the number of plants in India that produce methane from fermented cow dung for use in CNG vehicles to around 1,000.

Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor, which commands the largest share of India’s passenger vehicle market, will support the initiative.

The auto company has already begun producing biogas in India with financial assistance under Japan’s Global South support programme and is looking to further promote CNG vehicles in the country.

According to the report, CNG-powered vehicles account for more than 20 per cent of new passenger vehicle sales in India, where rising energy demand and heavy dependence on imported crude oil have prompted the government to explore alternative and cleaner fuel sources.

The report noted that Prime Minister Takaichi is expected to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here during her first visit to India since taking office in October last year.

The visit is part of the India-Japan leaders’ reciprocal “shuttle diplomacy” and is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in areas such as economic security, clean energy and economic growth.

The report added that Japan also sees closer ties with India as strategically important amid evolving geopolitical challenges and growing regional competition.

–IANS

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