On Wednesday, September 24, Nitin Gadkari, the minister of road transport and highways, said that India should start conducting ethanol exports since the country is in surplus production. In addition, he also said that the country needs to decrease its imports and increase its exports. Notably, Ethanol, an alcohol derivative, is being mixed with petrol. Some sections of social media users asserted that it is harmful for engine longevity. However, the government says that the substance is safe for use.
What did the minister say about ethanol exports?
Gadkari said that it is time for India’s futuristic development. We need to reduce our ethanol imports and increase our ethanol exports. As far as the surplus of ethanol, it is now the requirement of the country that we need to export ethanol. The country’s ethanol production capacity reached an annual production of approximately 1,822 crore liters by June 30, 2025, with the government’s Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Program encouraging increased production to meet its 20 per cent blending target for the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26.
Around 19.05 per cent ethanol blending was achieved by the end of July in the ongoing ESY 2024-25. Furthermore, the minister said that India can rapidly expand its ethanol production. He said farmers are earning Rs 45000 crore more every year due to the government’s ethanol policies. Moreover, he said rice straw will soon be converted into ethanol and bio-CNG, which could help in addressing Delhi’s pollution and stubble-burning issue.
Gadkari on clean fuel innovation
When it comes to innovation, Gadkari informed that successful trials of bio-bitumen roads, ethanol-powered generators, and flex-fuel vehicles have been conducted. He highlighted that automakers, including Toyota, Tata, Mahindra, Suzuki, and Hyundai, are adopting flex-fuel technology, whereas tractor makers and construction equipment manufacturers are also preferring hydrogen over biofuels.