Gadkari Envisions Bioenergy Superseding 50% of Fossil Fuels in Five Years

• Gadkari projects bioenergy to replace 50% of fossil fuels in 5 years
• India spends Rs. 22 lakh crore annually on fossil fuel imports
• Indian brands like Bajaj, TVS, Hero export 50% of their total output

Five years of fossil fuel use in India can absorb 50 per cent of bioenergy. Union Minister of Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has underlined the urgency of reducing fossil fuel use right away, attributing its highest share to India's air pollution. Addressing the Bhoomipujan of the Indian School for Design of Automobiles, he mentioned that the transport sector contributes 40 percent of the nation's air pollution.

Highlighting the economic and ecological cost, Gadkari announced that India is buying Rs. 22 lakh crore worth of fossil fuels annually. "In the next five years, bioenergy can provide 50 percent of our fossil fuel needs," he further added, reasserting the utility of alternative fuels to reduce imports as well as pollution.

India is driving clean mobility innovation with emphasis on ethanol, flex-fuel engines, methanol, biodiesel, bio-LNG, CNG, electric vehicles, and hydrogen. Previously, Nitin had spoken to reduce the GST on Gross Ethanol from 18 to 5 percent, and now the ethanol is being blended in petrol to 20 percent, and a future growth strategy is on the drawing board.

Also Read: Gadkari Seeks 5% GST on Crude Ethanol to Boost Flex-Fuel Vehicles

Gadkari repeated once again that the future of the automotive industry is bright, being powered by high-technology fuel technology and green engineering. He pointed out the industry's immense contribution towards the creation of employment opportunities and exports, having created 4.5 crore jobs and Rs. 3 lakh crore of exports.

Noting the global competitiveness of Indian companies like Bajaj, TVS, and Hero, who export 50 percent of their production and he called for continued innovation to help fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a carbon-neutral India.