India understands it has a problem with pollution and is eager to tackle this problem going forward. This is an important reasons for the Indian Governments interest in Scania’s work on biofuels and sustainable transport systems. Swedfund and Scania has now entered into a partnership to produce biofuel from sludge in the city of Nagpur. Nagpur is the pilot city for testing sustainable transport systems and a part of the Indian Governments Smart Cities project.

India is the 7th largest country in the world covering an area of 3.5 million square km and has a population of 1.2 billion. According to 2011 census figures, 30 percent of India’s population lives in urban areas and the rate of urbanization is growing steadily due to the push/pull effects of employment opportunities and the declining viability of the agricultural sector. This in addition to the fact that India now has the 4th largest economy in the world – $4.463 trillion (2011 est.), has resulted in a large and growing movement of goods, services, and people fueled by trade and employment opportunities – almost all of which is powered by fossil fuels.

The increase in emissions form traffic along with inadequate infrastructure facilities is responsible for high levels of local pollutants and GHGs in several of these cities. With the growing air pollution and GHG emissions from the transport sector in cities and at the national level, regulatory agencies will have to find real solutions, especially in terms of managing traffic in cities and freight at the national level.

The City of Nagpur, State of Maharashtra in India, have been appointed a pilot city for solutions to handle urban transport and mobility.

As part of this Scania and Swedfund has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for construction of a biogas plant in the city. The MOU envisions that a biogas plant, creating biogas fuel from waste, will be set up. The biogas will be utilised to run the vehicles, especially city buses.

Speakers

• Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, State Minister for Chemicals & fertilisers – tbc
• Swedish Minister for Enterprise (Mikael Damberg) – tbc
• Swedfund (Anna Ryott)
• Scania (Anders Grundströmer)
• Håkan Dahlfors, Symbiocity – tbc
• Gustaf Landahl, Stockholm Stad – tbc