The roundtable marked the launch of the Thought Leadership Report, a strategic roadmap highlighting the critical role of ethanol in advancing India's energy security.

New Delhi, April 09, 2025 – India's ethanol industry has emerged as a standout success story in the global clean energy landscape, having achieved near 20% ethanol blending in petrol ahead of the 2025 target. In a significant step towards shaping the future of the sector, a high-level roundtable convened recently brought together senior government officials, ethanol producers, policymakers, and industry leaders to deliberate on the next phase of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

The roundtable marked the launch of the Thought Leadership Report, a strategic roadmap highlighting the critical role of ethanol in advancing India's triple mandate of energy security, rural development, and climate action. Primus Partners, in collaboration with the Grain Ethanol Manufacturers Association (GEMA) and the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE), launched the report titled ‘Unlocking ₹35,000 Crore For Farmers – The Untapped Potential of Grain Ethanol’. The report was unveiled during a high-level roundtable discussion held in New Delhi, focusing on the future roadmap for India's Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP). The report reinforces the need for targeted policy support, stakeholder collaboration, and investment in technology to unlock the next level of growth in ethanol blending, especially from grain-based sources such as maize and surplus rice.

From achieving 10% ethanol blending ahead of schedule in 2022 to reaching a remarkable 19.6% blending in January 2025, India has demonstrated its capability to scale clean energy solutions rapidly. The ethanol blending initiative has already saved over Rs 1.08 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substituted nearly 185 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, and reduced 557 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

The report also addressed myths around India's food security, showing it is a grain surplus country which can cater to the needs of food and ethanol production without causing scarcity. Every year, India has a surplus of around 165 lakh metric tonnes of grain that could be used for ethanol.

The Thought Leadership Report identifies grain-based ethanol, particularly from maize and surplus grains like broken rice, as a key lever for sustainable expansion. It emphasizes the environmental and economic advantages of maize—India's least water-intensive feedstock with strong ethanol conversion efficiency. The report projects that 165 Lakh Metric Tons of surplus grain could be utilised annually to generate over Rs 35,000 crores in direct payments to farmers, reinforcing rural prosperity and arresting urban migration.

This roundtable and the release of the Thought Leadership Report underscore the government's commitment to a structured, strategic, and inclusive ethanol roadmap—one that harmonises the interests of energy, environment, and rural India. Going forth, we eye E100, flex-fuel-vehicles, sustainable aviation fuel, etc. Given such ambitious goals, it is important the government and industry come together and shape a cleaner and prosperous future.