**India Aims to Export Ethanol Amid Surplus Production, Says Minister Nitin Gadkari**
Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has emphasized India’s potential to become an ethanol exporting country, highlighting the nation’s surplus production capacity. Speaking at the 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy and Technologies held in New Delhi, Gadkari asserted that after achieving the target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol, India should now focus on gearing up for ethanol exports.
“It is the time for India’s futuristic development. We need to reduce our imports and increase our exports. As far as the surplus of ethanol, it is now the requirement of the country that we need to export ethanol,” the minister said.
India’s ethanol production capacity has reached approximately 1,822 crore litres annually as of June 30, according to news agency ANI. This growth has been propelled by the government’s Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) programme, which actively promotes increased ethanol production to meet the 20% blending target set for the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26.
Ethanol production in India primarily relies on feedstocks such as molasses (sugarcane-based) and grains like maize and rice. For the ongoing Ethanol Supply Year 2024-25, an average ethanol blending rate of 19.05 percent was achieved as of July 31.
Drawing parallels with Brazil’s pioneering role in ethanol production, Gadkari highlighted India’s rapid scaling-up efforts. He referenced the success of corn-based ethanol, which has significantly boosted farmer incomes. “Farmers now earn Rs 45,000 crore more annually because of ethanol policies. Diversifying agriculture towards energy is the need of the hour,” he said.
Gadkari also noted India’s progress in ethanol blending, mentioning that petrol now carries up to 20 percent ethanol. Additionally, the Union Minister pointed to innovative initiatives aimed at converting rice straw into ethanol and bio-compressed natural gas (CNG), which are crucial steps towards tackling stubble burning and mitigating Delhi’s severe air pollution problem.
Highlighting technological advancements, Gadkari spoke about successful trials involving bio-bitumen roads, ethanol-powered generators, and flex-fuel vehicles. “Automakers, including Toyota, Tata, Mahindra, Suzuki, and Hyundai, are adopting flex-fuel technology, while tractor manufacturers and construction equipment makers are also transitioning to biofuels and hydrogen,” he remarked.
The minister reiterated the government’s firm commitment to alternative fuels with objectives to reduce pollution, curb import dependency, and increase farmers’ incomes.
Addressing air pollution concerns, Gadkari stated, “Nearly 40 percent of air pollution in India is caused by transport fuels.” He further pointed out that India imports fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore annually, underscoring the importance of boosting domestic ethanol production and exports to strengthen energy security.
*(With ANI inputs)*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/india-should-start-exporting-ethanol-nitin-gadkari-23595598
