Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday dismissed criticism over the rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20), alleging that this was fuelled by vested pursuits and amounted to a “paid marketing campaign” and individually mentioned that work was on to attain a ten% biodiesel aim underneath the fuel-blending programme.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari speaks throughout sixty fifth SIAM Annual Convention 2025, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI)

“The campaigns on social media in opposition to ethanol have been to focus on me politically,” Gadkari claimed at a Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) assembly within the capital.

India in July achieved the goal of blending 20% ethanol — an alcohol compound extracted from sugarcane molasses and grains — with petrol bought at stations throughout the nation. Many car-owners, nonetheless, had criticised the transfer lately in social media posts, claiming that blended gasoline hurts impression gasoline financial system and a few engine elements.

Defending the coverage, Gadkari maintained that ethanol is “(an) import substitute, price efficient, air pollution free and indigenous.” He argued that the nation spends ₹22 lakh crore yearly on fossil gasoline imports. “If these ₹22 lakh crore go to the Indian financial system, then how a lot revenue will probably be made right here?” he requested, including that the programme was already yielding advantages for farmers.

At a separate occasion, Gadkari mentioned work on creating biodiesel, which can have a ten% mixture of isobutanol, was happening in full swing.

Isobutanol, a liquid alcohol used as a gasoline additive, will be commercially produced from quite a lot of biomass feedstocks, equivalent to corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, and sugar cane through the use of a yeast biocatalyst.

“Our coverage is to lower the import of fossil fuels. Going ahead, we won’t solely have 10% biodiesel however we can even use biomass for producing bitumen used for street development,” Gadkari.

Union meals minister Pralhad Joshi, who additionally participated within the convention of the Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), mentioned the nation had efficiently turned sugarcane, a standard crop, right into a useful resource for clear gasoline.

“India is the third-largest client and producer of ethanol. It has led to power safety and environmental advantages, and created new sources of income, benefiting farmers,” the meals minister mentioned. Mills within the nation had cleared 90% of dues payable to farmers for cane purchases.

The nation had saved ₹1.44 lakh crore because of the ethanol mixing programme, Joshi mentioned.

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