Gadkari Defends Ethanol Blending in Petrol, Cites Diversification Benefits

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed the 'Bihar Investor Summit 2026' and discussed the benefits of ethanol blending in petrol. He claimed that since 2022, over 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 crore two-wheelers have been running on petrol mixed with ethanol without any damage to their vehicles.

Gadkari emphasized that the decision to blend ethanol with petrol aimed at diversifying the agriculture sector towards energy and power sectors. He stated that farmers will no longer be just food producers but also become 'energy producers' through this initiative.

The minister revealed that after the Union government implemented the decision to use ethanol from corn, it resulted in additional earnings of up to Rs 45,000 crore for farmers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. He highlighted the potential benefits of innovation and technology in various sectors, including aviation fuel made from rice straw.