Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Roadways, announced on Thursday that he plans to meet with oil marketing companies after the Delhi elections to discuss strategies for making retail ethanol prices more affordable. Speaking at the 4th Edition of the Sugar-Ethanol and Bio Energy India Conference (SEIC) 2025, organized by ChiniMandi, Gadkari highlighted Indian Oil's initiative to open 400 ethanol pumps. He noted that the oil marketing company had set the retail price of ethanol at Rs 110 per litre, which is higher than the market price of petrol, seemingly to discourage the sale of the eco-friendly fuel.
Following the Delhi assembly elections, likely on February 6 or 7, we will convene a meeting. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri has informed me that the procurement rate and selling price of ethanol by the government will be adjusted to a reasonable level to avoid high retail prices,
Gadkari also mentioned that there is significant potential for establishing numerous ethanol pumps similar to those selling blended fuel, provided that ethanol prices are considerably lower than gasoline prices. He additionally proposed that sugar factories could open ethanol pumps at their locations, creating a new source of revenue.
Additionally, the Union minister proposed that lignin, a byproduct of converting rice straw biomass into bio CNG, could be used in bitumen in combination with rubber powder.
A trial was conducted on a short segment of the Nagpur-Jabalpur highway, he mentioned, emphasizing that this innovation could enable farmers to participate in the bitumen industry. India faces a significant deficit of bitumen, which is essential for road construction.
(Agency)