Synopsis
India's ethanol initiative is enhancing farmers' incomes, creating jobs, and saving billions in foreign exchange while reducing carbon emissions, according to Union Minister Hardeep Puri.Key Takeaways
- India's ethanol drive boosts farmers’ income.
- Saved Rs 1.26 lakh crore in foreign exchange.
- Job creation through the ethanol initiative.
- Upcoming bamboo-based bio-ethanol plant in Assam.
- Reduction in oil imports and carbon emissions.
New Delhi, April 24 (NationPress) India’s ethanol initiative is emerging as a transformative force, significantly enhancing farmers’ earnings and creating employment opportunities, while also saving the nation billions in foreign exchange and lowering the carbon footprint, stated Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Thursday.
The Union Minister revealed that India’s ethanol movement has already contributed Rs 1,07,580 crore to farmers’ incomes and helped conserve Rs 1,26,210 crore in foreign exchange by diminishing crude oil imports.
Puri emphasized that this government initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming ‘annadatas’ (food providers) into ‘urjadatas’ (energy providers).
“This initiative not only boosts farmers’ income and creates jobs, but also aids in foreign exchange savings and is beneficial for the environment,” Puri expressed on the social media platform X.
As part of this green transition, a bamboo-based bio-ethanol refinery in Assam is nearing completion, poised to provide substantial advantages to the northeastern region.
The forthcoming bio-refinery will boast a production capacity of 49 kilotonnes per annum (KTPA). It will utilize bamboo — often referred to as ‘green gold’ — to manufacture ethanol, thereby increasing the income of nearly 30,000 rural families across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
Minister Puri also shared visuals of the site, describing it as a representation of sustainable development that harmonizes economic advancement with environmental awareness.
“This bamboo-based bio-ethanol facility will herald a new era for rural households and enhance the livelihoods of thousands of bamboo farmers,” he added.
Reports indicate that PM Modi may officially launch the plant in September this year.
“Locally produced ethanol has also decreased the country’s oil import dependency by 214 lakh metric tonnes and reduced carbon emissions by 643 lakh metric tonnes
The blending of ethanol has risen to 12.06 per cent in ESY 2022-23, 14.60 per cent in ESY 2023-24, and 17.98 per cent in ESY 2024-25 (up to February 28, 2025).
