India’s Ethanol Revolution: Minister Puri’s Vision for Sustainable Biofuels

New Delhi: Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, spoke passionately about India’s unstoppable ethanol journey during a Fireside Chat Session at the Pioneer Biofuels 360 Summit. He highlighted the remarkable success of the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program, attributing its significant progress to the policy reforms initiated after 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The Minister proudly shared that India surpassed its ethanol blending targets ahead of schedule, achieving 10% blending by 2022 and advancing the original target of 20% blending to 2025. He credited this success to sustained policy reforms, such as guaranteed pricing for ethanol and the expansion of distillation capacity nationwide. Shri Puri also debunked myths surrounding ethanol-blended fuel, emphasizing that it has not caused any engine failures or breakdowns, drawing parallels with Brazil’s successful adoption of E27.

Despite facing opposition from vested interests, the Minister remained confident in India’s ethanol revolution, stating that the transition to E20 is irreversible due to strong policy support, industry readiness, and public acceptance. He elaborated on the benefits of E20, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, enhanced engine performance, and substantial foreign exchange savings.

Shri Puri highlighted the conversion of agricultural residues into ethanol at 2G ethanol refineries, showcasing a sustainable solution for clean fuel, pollution control, and increased farmer income. He also commended the growth of maize-based ethanol, marking a significant shift in fuel production.

Addressing Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), the Minister praised the Indian automobile industry for developing prototypes of E85-compatible vehicles and emphasized the gradual transition towards higher ethanol blends. He outlined the Ethanol Blending Roadmap (2020–25) and emphasized the importance of industry readiness and consumer acceptance in achieving the targets.

Emphasizing the transformative impact of ethanol blending, Shri Puri highlighted the benefits to farmers, reduced crude imports, foreign exchange savings, job creation, and climate commitments. He underscored the significant contribution of ethanol procurement in empowering farmers and reducing crude imports, showcasing the positive impact of the program.

Regarding Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), the Minister outlined India’s collaborative efforts with various stakeholders to develop and scale up SAF. He detailed the phased approach to SAF adoption, with blending mandates set for international flights, demonstrating India’s commitment to innovative and sustainable practices in the aviation sector.