India Emerges as Third Largest Producer and Consumer of Ethanol: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Highlights Bioenergy Progress

New Delhi: India has cemented its position as the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of ethanol, largely due to proactive policy changes introduced by the government, announced Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, at the India Sugar & Bio Energy Conference held today.

While addressing the conference, the Minister emphasized the remarkable success of the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, which has not only enhanced ethanol production capacity but also delivered wide-ranging economic and environmental benefits. “In the last 10 years, sugar mills have generated higher revenues from ethanol sales, significantly reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through ethanol-blended petrol, and spurred investments, especially in rural distilleries, contributing to direct and indirect employment generation,” said Joshi.

The Union Minister also highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering a robust and sustainable sugar industry. He stressed that the sector, which has grown by 40% in sugarcane production and 18% in cultivation area over the past decade, remains a crucial pillar of India’s renewable energy landscape. The introduction of the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) for sugar in 2018 was pivotal in protecting both farmers and the industry, helping to drastically reduce pending cane dues. “Cane dues pendency is now at an all-time low, with 99% of dues amounting to Rs. 1.14 lakh crore having been paid to farmers,” he stated.

Joshi praised India’s farmers, saying they are transforming from “Anna Dattas” (food providers) to “Urja Dattas” (energy providers), playing a pivotal role in India’s renewable energy push. This synergy between agriculture and green energy, he said, is key to building a sustainable future and aligns with India’s ambitious net-zero emissions target by 2070. “India has already surpassed the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement well ahead of schedule,” he added.

India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane, behind Brazil, and Joshi pointed to the potential for collaboration between the two countries in biofuel production, including ethanol, biodiesel, and biojet fuel. He also highlighted the vast opportunities in sectors like 2G & 3G Ethanol, Green Hydrogen, and Bio-plastics, encouraging technology exchange and joint research and development. “The Global Biofuels Alliance presents many new opportunities for innovation and investment,” said the Minister.

Sustainable packaging, which promotes the Bharat Brand and Indian food at a global level, was another focus of Joshi’s remarks. He encouraged the sugar and bio-energy sectors to continue pursuing public-private partnerships, innovation, and farmer-centric policies to ensure India remains globally competitive in these fields.

Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, also addressed the conference, sharing optimistic news about the upcoming sugar season. “Thanks to a favorable monsoon, we expect a good crop for the 2024-2025 season,” he said, noting that stable sugar prices due to the government’s interventions have provided relief to consumers.