Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that blending of Isobutanol with Diesel will increase soon. He also said that ethanol blending with petrol is currently at 20% and we will increase ethanol blending for producing sustainable aviation fuel.
He said that corn prices has risen due to ethanol blending and corn farmers have earned over Rs 42,000 crore due to the programme.
Gadkari had earlier said that India now produces a surplus of rice, wheat, sugar, and corn. Converting this surplus into biofuels, he said, has improved farm incomes.
He also said that ethanol production has also rescued the sugar industry from prolonged cane payment delays, allowing timely compensation to farmers.
He also hit back at what he called a 'paid political campaign' targeting the government’s E20 petrol programme. Gadkari said all tests had confirmed there were no issues with the rollout of 20 percent ethanol-blended petrol.
He noted that recent fears over engine damage and warranty issues had been proven false. “All testing agencies have confirmed there is no problem with implementation,” he said.
The remarks came shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed petitions that challenged the legality and safety of the E20 fuel mandate.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
