Ethanol saved India’s Rs 1.26 lakh crore – Hardeep Singh Puri

India’s ethanol initiative has helped India save Rs. 1,26,210 crore in foreign exchange by reducing the need for crude oil imports and boosted farmers’ incomes by Rs. 1,07,580 crore.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted on a social media platform the transformative impact of India’s ethanol program, calling it a powerful driver of economic growth, rural employment, foreign exchange savings, and environmental sustainability.

Puri emphasized that the ethanol initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of turning India’s farmers from annadatas into urjadatas (food providers into energy providers). By promoting the use of ethanol, the government is not only enhancing farmers’ income and creating job opportunities but also contributing to the nation’s green goals and reducing dependency on imported fuel.

He also said that the net impact on the environment is that “CO2 emissions reduced by 643 lakh metric tons.” He added that the availability of crude oil alternatives increased to 214 lakh metric tonnes in the country.

The Minister also spotlighted a bamboo-based bio-ethanol refinery in Assam that is nearing completion. The facility, which will have a production capacity of 49,000 tonnes per annum (KTPA), is expected to be a game-changer for the northeastern region. Using bamboo—commonly known as “green gold”—as feedstock, the project is poised to boost the livelihoods of nearly 30,000 rural families across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

Sharing images of the plant, Puri described it as a symbol of sustainable development, merging economic growth with ecological responsibility. “These pictures showcase the Assam Bio-Ethanol Plant, where ethanol will be produced from bamboo—our ‘Green Gold’—reflecting how economic progress and environmental care can go hand in hand,” he wrote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the facility in September this year. India has already achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol, 5 months before the planned timeline and a 30% target is expected to be on the horizon.