Govt to push isobutanol blending with diesel after ethanol trials fail

Diesel in India will soon be blended with isobutanol instead of ethanol after initial trials with ethanol did not deliver the expected results, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. Speaking at the India Sugar and Bio-Energy Conference, the minister said that the government is committed to expanding biofuel use as part of its clean energy and farm income strategy.

Ethanol unsuccessful, isobutanol trials underway

Gadkari acknowledged that ethanol–diesel blending trials had failed. "We tried ethanol with diesel but the results were not satisfactory. Now isobutanol will be blended with diesel," he said. Trials with isobutanol are in progress and according to him, blending levels will be increased in the coming months.

Ethanol blending reaches 20 per cent in petrol

While ethanol could not be scaled up in diesel, Gadkari said the government had already achieved 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol under the E20 programme. He added that the next step would be to expand ethanol use for producing sustainable aviation fuel, reducing dependence on imported crude.

Farmers gain from ethanol programme

Highlighting the economic benefits of the blending programme, Gadkari said ethanol had provided a direct boost to agricultural incomes. "Corn farmers have earned more than Rs 42,000 crore because of ethanol blending," he said. He noted that India produces surplus rice, wheat, sugar and corn and converting this surplus into biofuels has strengthened farm earnings. He stressed that ethanol production had also stabilised the sugar industry, which had long struggled with delayed payments to cane growers. With higher ethanol output, sugar mills are now able to compensate farmers on time, reducing financial stress across the sector. Gadkari also responded to concerns about the safety and reliability of E20 fuel, which blends 20 per cent ethanol with petrol. Dismissing the criticism, he described it as part of a "paid political campaign" against the programme. He said all independent testing agencies had confirmed that there were no issues related to engine damage or warranty claims. His comments came days after the Supreme Court dismissed petitions that challenged the legality and safety of the E20 mandate, clearing the way for its wider adoption.