BioEnergy Expo begins at Yashobhoomi; Nitin Gadkari sets vision for biofuels

The second edition of the International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy and Technologies has kicked off at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. Addressing the gathering, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari held that the biofuels industry is transforming India’s economic and agricultural future. The event, organised by Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) , will go until September 26, 2025.

During the event, Gadkari stressed that India must move beyond import substitution to become an exporter of ethanol. “It is time for India’s futuristic development. We need to reduce imports and increase exports. With surplus ethanol production, the need of the hour is to export,” he said.

Highlighting the link between bioenergy and farmer welfare, he said true development is incomplete unless farmers receive their fair share. Bioenergy, he added, ensures both environmental sustainability and rural prosperity.

As of June 2025, India’s ethanol production capacity stands at 1,822 crore litres annually, from sugarcane molasses and grain feedstocks. Ethanol blending has already averaged 19.05% this supply year (2024–25). Gadkari noted that global commodity prices are shaped by a few nations—Brazil for sugar, the U.S. for corn and Malaysia and Argentina for soybean oil—and urged India to claim a similar role in biofuels.

The minister also spotlighted new technologies like isobutanol, a sustainable alternative to diesel. The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is currently testing its viability, with a report expected soon for consideration by the Ministry of Petroleum.

On the biogas front, Gadkari announced that 500 new plants are under development, turning rice straw—often considered agricultural waste—into a valuable energy source.

Positioning biofuels as a game-changer, he reiterated that their promotion can simultaneously strengthen India’s energy security, enhance farmer income, and establish India as a global leader in green growth.