(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India is hitting a major milestone with its ethanol blending program, and now it’s time to start exporting the surplus, says Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Speaking at the 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy and Technologies in New Delhi on Wednesday, Gadkari urged the country to cut imports and ramp up exports to fuel futuristic growth.
With ethanol production surging, India reached an annual capacity of about 1,822 crore liters by June 30, 2025. The government’s Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) program has pushed farmers and producers to boost output using sugarcane-based molasses and grains like maize and rice. For the current Ethanol Supply Year 2024-25, blending hit an average of 19.05% as of July 31, 2025, getting close to the 20% target for 2025-26.
Gadkari pointed to Brazil’s lead in ethanol as inspiration, noting how India is quickly catching up. He highlighted corn-based ethanol’s big win: it has boosted farmers’ incomes by Rs 45,000 crore a year. “Diversifying agriculture into energy crops is crucial right now,” he said, emphasizing how biofuels can transform rural economies.
The minister celebrated India’s push toward 20% ethanol in petrol and shared exciting steps to turn waste into wealth. For instance, new initiatives convert rice straw into ethanol and bio-CNG, tackling stubble burning and the severe air pollution choking Delhi. “With 500 plants in the works, rice straw won’t be waste anymore—it’ll power our future,” Gadkari added.
Innovation is at the heart of this shift. Trials for bio-bitumen roads, ethanol-run generators, and flex-fuel vehicles are succeeding. Major automakers like Toyota, Tata, Mahindra, Suzuki, and Hyundai are rolling out flex-fuel tech, while tractor and construction equipment makers eye biofuels and even hydrogen.
Gadkari also spotlighted emerging areas like green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel, with pilot projects already underway. The government’s all-in on alternative fuels to slash pollution—transport accounts for nearly 40% of India’s air woes—and slash the Rs 22 lakh crore spent yearly on imported fossil fuels.
“Embracing ethanol, bio-CNG, and sustainable aviation fuel isn’t just about the environment; it’s an economic game-changer for rural India,” he said. This drive cuts pollution, creates jobs, strengthens farming, and builds self-reliant India, or Atmanirbhar Bharat. For India’s biofuel future, the potential is endless.
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