PUNE: On Saturday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari highlight the role of switching to alternative fuels such as ethanol, saying that efforts are on to incorporate ethanol into construction and agricultural equipment.

The Union road transport and roads minister stated that the country imports petroleum products worth Rs 10 lakh crore to cover the needs of the energy and power sectors, and that need might rise to Rs 25 lakh crore in the next five years, posing a threat to the economy. Gadkari was addressing at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute's state-level Sugar Conference 2022 in Pune.

"Alternative energy is the way of the future." After electric scooters, automobiles, and buses, electric tractors and trucks will be available soon. 'These will be launched soon,' Gadkari added.

Agriculture equipment that runs on diesel should be converted to run on petrol, and flex engines can be modified to run on ethanol, he said, adding that attempts are underway to incorporate ethanol into construction equipment.
"The growth in sugar consumption across the globe is transient," the minister stated, emphasising the necessity to shift from sugar to ethanol production. Brazil manufactures ethanol from sugarcane as the price of crude oil rises to $140 per barrel, increasing India's demand for sugar. Brazil begins manufacturing sugar when crude oil prices fall to $70 to $80 per barrel." Sugar prices will fall dramatically when crude oil prices fall, he predicted.

Gadkari also requested that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar install ethanol pumps in Pune to assist farmers in selling the fuel directly to consumers.

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