India Plans 15% Isobutanol Blending In Diesel To Boost Biofuel Transition: Nitin Gadkari
By Rohan Kapoor
After rolling out E20 petrol, the Centre is preparing the next phase of its biofuel strategy by planning to allow blending of up to 15 per cent isobutanol with diesel, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said. The move is aimed at reducing India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels while expanding the use of cleaner transport fuels.
Speaking about the government’s roadmap for alternative fuels, Gadkari said ethanol cannot be blended directly with diesel, prompting efforts to convert ethanol into isobutanol, which can serve as a viable alternative.
“Ethanol can’t be blended directly with diesel, so we’re producing isobutanol from ethanol. Isobutanol can serve as an alternative to diesel,” the minister said.
He said the government is working towards enabling up to a 15 per cent isobutanol blend in diesel, describing it as a key milestone in India’s push for energy security, lower crude oil imports and cleaner mobility. Pilot projects have already shown encouraging results, he added.
Highlighting technological progress, Gadkari said two generator sets have successfully operated on 100 per cent ethanol and isobutanol, demonstrating that engines can be designed to run entirely on these alternative fuels.
Isobutanol is considered a next-generation biofuel because it has higher energy density, better compatibility with existing diesel engines and lower emissions compared with several conventional biofuels. The government believes its wider adoption could strengthen India’s energy independence while creating greater demand for domestically produced biofuels.
Gadkari’s remarks come days after the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas defended the E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme against misinformation circulating on social media, reiterating that the initiative is backed by scientific studies and regulatory safeguards.
This article has been republished from The International Business Times.