Gadkari reaffirms Centre’s vision for 100 pc ethanol blending to boost clean energy and farmer welfare

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has reiterated the Centre’s ambitious goal of achieving 100 per cent ethanol blending in the future, aiming to promote long-term sustainability for the sugar industry and exploring alternatives such as Bio-CNG.

This push for higher ethanol blending is designed not only to reduce India’s heavy dependence on fuel imports and combat pollution, but also to generate new income opportunities and ensure economic stability for farmers, thereby cementing the sugar industry’s role in the country’s clean energy transition.

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Gadkari also emphasised India’s commitment to energy security and farmer welfare, noting that the country has already achieved nearly 20 per cent ethanol blending. He drew a comparison with Brazil, where the current ethanol blending level stands at 27 per cent.

“India is set to finalise standards for 27 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by the end of August,” the Union Minister announced at the International Sugar Expo 2025, held alongside the 83rd Centennial Annual Convention of the Sugar Technologists’ Association of India (STAI).

He further asserted that farmers are the most important pillars of the nation and that the government’s top priority is to ensure their well-being and a stable income.

Highlighting the challenges ahead, Gadkari pointed out that agriculture’s contribution to India’s GDP is currently only 12 per cent, underscoring the need to increase this share in order to generate more rural employment.

The Expo’s combined focus on policy initiatives and technological advancements marked a significant milestone for India’s sugar and biofuel sectors. The three-day event, which concluded on Saturday, served as a vital platform for showcasing innovations in the sugar and allied industries.

More than 115 leading technology providers—both domestic and international—exhibited cutting-edge solutions across diverse sectors including sugar machinery, ethanol production, co-generation power, green hydrogen, pollution control, and agri-equipment.

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS India, for instance, showcased its innovative Lewatit ion-exchange resins, which are critical for high-efficiency sugar decolorization and purification—key components for the global food and beverage industry.