Grain Ethanol Growth Meets Multiple Objectives

24-Nov-2025 01:57 PM

New Delhi. India has seen a significant increase in ethanol production from broken rice, maize, and damaged grains in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years.

This is helping to simultaneously achieve multiple objectives, including turning adversity into opportunity, strengthening the commitment to green energy, promoting rural development, and ensuring strategic energy security.

The target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol was achieved five years ahead of schedule, with grain-based ethanol contributing significantly.

Petroleum companies have also been allocated higher quotas for the current marketing season (November-October).

Innovative initiatives are being rapidly expanded in India to address the challenges of climate change, which are expected to significantly contribute to meeting future energy security needs, reducing fossil fuel (petroleum) imports, and thus saving foreign exchange. India has been among the leading petroleum importers.

The rapid growth in grain-based ethanol production is primarily due to the surplus production of food grains.

Domestic production of rice, wheat, and maize has increased significantly in recent years, allowing distilleries to easily obtain adequate quantities of raw materials for ethanol production.

The price of grain-based ethanol is also profitable for distilleries, while the domestic market price of maize has declined significantly.