India’s ethanol blending initiatives are gaining traction, with research on blending 15% ethanol in diesel now ongoing, according to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. He also said that we are working to push up the same.
Speaking at the 12th CII Bioenergy Summit 2024 in New Delhi, Gadkari highlighted the critical role of ethanol in achieving India’s green energy objectives and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
“Indian Oil has decided to establish 400 ethanol pump stations, and automakers such as Suzuki, Tata, and Toyota are preparing to launch flex-engine vehicles,” Gadkari noted, adding that ethanol bikes from TVS, Bajaj, and Honda are ready for rollout once the necessary infrastructure is in place. Emphasizing the government’s transition from ‘knowledge to wealth’ to ‘waste to wealth,’ he mentioned, “Over 475 CNG projects are in the pipeline, with 40 already initiated, many of which utilize rice straw for CNG production.” Regarding bio-CNG, he stated, “We are piloting projects to convert municipal solid waste into bio-CNG, which could significantly lower raw material costs.”
Gadkari encouraged the industry to seek more efficient biomass sources and to address transportation costs. “By fully integrating biofuel into the agricultural economy, the contribution of the agriculture sector to GDP could increase from 14-15% to over 20%,” he said, envisioning a future where farmers evolve from being ‘Annadata’ (food-givers) to ‘Urjadata’ (energy-givers).
