‘I kept promoting Ethanol': Nitin Gadkari says the green fuel is powering India’s energy shift beyond petrol and diesel

India’s ethanol story has quietly moved beyond fuel blending into a far bigger energy transformation, according to Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Nitin Gadkari explains how Ethanol is powering India’s energy shift

He said what began as an alternative to cut oil imports is now emerging as a multi-sector solution, powering factories, telecom towers, and even heavy generators.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently elaborated on how sustained policy push and industry participation have reshaped the ethanol ecosystem.

"I kept promoting Ethanol,” he said. “Factories grew. India's ethanol production reached 1,800 crore litres while consumption is 1,400 crore litres. Now, 450 crore litres is being used in telecommunication towers. Generators have been launched with 100% ethanol."

According to him, India’s ethanol production has reached nearly 1,800 crore litres, while domestic consumption stands at about 1,400 crore litres, creating a significant surplus.

Rather than letting this excess go unused, the government and industry have begun deploying ethanol in new, high-impact areas.

One of the most notable shifts is in the telecom sector, where around 450 crore litres of ethanol are now being used to power generators at mobile towers.

Traditionally dependent on diesel, telecom infrastructure is a major consumer of fossil fuels. Ethanol-powered generators offer a cleaner, domestically produced alternative that reduces emissions, operating costs, and import dependence.

Adding momentum to this transition is the launch of generators that run on 100% ethanol.

These gensets, already available in the market, signal a decisive move away from diesel-based backup power.

For sectors such as telecom, construction, and remote infrastructure, ethanol provides reliability without the environmental baggage of fossil fuels.

Gadkari has consistently argued that ethanol is not just a blending component but a strategically pushed fuel that supports farmers, strengthens rural economies, cuts carbon emissions, and saves foreign exchange.

With production capacity rising faster than demand, India is also exploring ethanol exports, positioning itself as a global supplier of green fuel.

As ethanol finds applications beyond vehicles and into core infrastructure, India’s energy transition appears less aspirational and more operational. The fuel of the future, it seems, is already at work.

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