After the ethanol test failed, the government mixed isobutanol with diesel

United Road Transport and Expressway Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday that India’s diesel will be mixed with isobutanol instead of ethanol soon after preliminary tests with ethanol. The minister said at the Indian Sugar and Bioenergy Conference that the government is committed to expanding the use of biofuels as part of its clean energy and farm revenue strategy.

Ongoing ethanol failure, isobutanol test

Gadkari admits that the ethanol-diesel mixture test failed. “We tried ethanol from diesel, but the results were not satisfactory. Now, isobutanol will be mixed with diesel.” The trial with isobutanol is in progress, and according to him, the mixing level will increase in the next few months.

Ethanol mix reaches 20% in gasoline

Although ethanol cannot be expanded in diesel, Gardkari said the government has achieved 20% ethanol mix in gasoline under the E20 plan. He added that the next step will be to expand the use of ethanol for the production of sustainable aviation fuel, thereby reducing reliance on imported crude oil.

Farmers profit from ethanol schemes

Gadkari highlighted the economic benefits of the mixing plan, saying ethanol directly drives agricultural income. “The income of corn farmers is over Rs 4.2 crore due to the mix of ethanol,” he said, noting that India produces surplus rice, wheat, sugar and corn and converts this surplus into biofuels, thus enhancing farm income. He stressed that ethanol production has also stabilized the sugar industry, which has long struggled to pay delays for sugarcane growers. With higher ethanol production, sugar factories are now able to compensate farmers on time, reducing financial pressure across the industry. Gadkari also responded to concerns about the safety and reliability of the E20 fuel, which mixes 20% ethanol with gasoline. He dismissed the criticism, describing it as part of a “paid political campaign” targeting the plan. He said all independent testing agencies have confirmed that there are no issues related to engine damage or warranty claims. The Supreme Court rejected a petition challenging the legality and security of the E20 mandate for several days, and his comments were published for several days, clearing the way for its wider adoption.