Research on Blending 15% Ethanol in Diesel is in an Advanced Stage: Gadkari

16 Oct 2024

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that India's ethanol blending initiatives are progressing rapidly, with advanced research underway for a 15% ethanol blend in diesel. Speaking at the 12th CII Bioenergy Summit 2024 in New Delhi, he highlighted the crucial role of ethanol in meeting India's green energy objectives and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels.

Ethanol blending in petrol has risen from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024, with a government goal of reaching 20% by 2025. "Indian Oil plans to establish 400 ethanol pump stations, and automakers like Suzuki, Tata, and Toyota are gearing up to introduce flex-fuel vehicles," Gadkari mentioned, noting that ethanol-powered bikes from TVS, Bajaj, and Honda are prepared for launch as soon as the necessary infrastructure is ready.

Highlighting the government’s transition from a focus on ‘knowledge to wealth’ to ‘waste to wealth,’ Gadkari noted that more than 475 CNG projects are in the queue, with 40 projects already underway. Many of these initiatives are using rice straw for CNG production. Regarding bio-CNG, he said, “We are running pilot projects to transform municipal solid waste into bio-CNG, which can significantly decrease the raw material's cost."

Gadkari urged the industry to explore more efficient biomass sources and address transportation costs. “If we fully integrate biofuels 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 become ‘urjadaata’ (energy-giver) from ‘annadaata’ (food-giver).