Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 8: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday issued a clarion call for a nationwide biofuel revolution, describing it as a “once-in-a-century opportunity” to reshape India’s energy landscape, revitalize the rural economy, and combat air pollution.
Speaking at the International Summit Expo on Bioenergy Value Chain, Gadkari emphasized that the country must aggressively transition from importing costly fossil fuels to producing green fuels from agricultural and organic waste, including crop residue, bamboo, and biomass.
“India must become an energy exporter, not just an energy importer,” Gadkari asserted, noting that the country’s Rs 22 lakh crore annual fossil fuel import bill is unsustainable.
He praised Brazil’s leadership in aviation biofuel and highlighted India’s progress in adopting sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) at domestic airports. He called SAF a “huge market for the future” and pushed for viable, research-backed innovations in bioenergy.
Crop Waste as an Opportunity
Gadkari reframed the problem of stubble burning — a major cause of pollution in northern India — as an economic opportunity. He cited rice straw from Punjab and Haryana as a rich source of raw material for producing:
• Bio-CNG
• Ethanol
• Bio-bitumen
• Aviation fuel
He referenced the Indian Oil Manpur project, which processes 2 lakh tonnes of crop waste into clean fuel annually, as a model for replication across India.
Bamboo and Wasteland Utilization
Gadkari also proposed utilizing India’s wastelands — 70% of which are unproductive — for bamboo cultivation, which can be converted into white coal and sold to thermal power plants, such as those run by NTPC.
This model could empower farmers and rural entrepreneurs, offering new income streams and reducing dependency on traditional crops.
“Agriculture must be diversified towards the energy and power sector,” he said, pointing to higher ethanol demand as a catalyst for increased crop prices. “Corn prices jumped from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,600 per quintal due to biofuel-linked demand.”
Call for Policy and Industry Action
The minister underscored the need for economically viable biofuel technologies, supportive policies, and private investment. He insisted that true rural growth would only come with profitability in agriculture tied to clean energy production.
Key Takeaways:
• Biofuels can reduce pollution, especially from crop burning and transport.
• They offer a path to energy independence.
• Bioenergy creates value chains that support farmers, entrepreneurs, and industry alike.
• Projects like Manpur and NTPC’s bamboo initiative show scalable solutions already in motion.