India, Brazil push to finalise GBA charter by yr-end

India and Brazil have taken up the delay in setting up the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) headquarters and establishing a charter, and agreed to establish both by the end of the current year, sources said.

- SUBHAYAN CHAKRABORTY

The issue was discussed during Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's meeting with his counterpart in Brasilia last month, they added. The GBA was launched on September 9, 2023, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

But more than a year later, it remains without a charter, a fixed governance structure, or a permanent secretariat.

"Both sides recognised the importance of quickly resolving the pending work on the GBA. A year-end date is being tentatively eyed for clearing the pending work on securing a headquarters, and establishing a charter," an official source said.

However, the multi-stakeholder alliance of governments, international organisations and industries has adopted a work plan.