Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade has strongly advocated the production, promotion and use of ethanol in India, saying it can help the country reduce its exposure to international petroleum market volatility and geopolitical risks. Speaking in Mumbai, Bagade said India should make greater use of its agricultural resources to expand ethanol production and emerge as a global leader in the sector.
“Sugarcane fields should be like wells and reservoirs of ethanol. We must lead the world,” Bagade said while addressing four conferences held simultaneously in Mumbai — the Bharat Ethanol Forum, Global Turmeric Conclave, Maize Markets Summit & Expo, and Bio Resources & Circular Economy Summit & Expo.
Bagade praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for their efforts to promote ethanol and increase its use as an alternative fuel. A former Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Bagade also drew on his experience with the sugar and cooperative sectors while highlighting the importance of ethanol for the future of sugar mills and rural economies. 
He said sugar mills cannot depend only on sugar production for their long-term financial sustainability. According to Bagade, several cooperative sugar mills faced losses when they were dependent primarily on sugar. The introduction of cogeneration plants, ethanol units and in-house distilleries created additional revenue opportunities for the industry and helped strengthen the economic viability of sugar factories.
Bagade also recalled the early development of ethanol blending in India and said a pilot programme for blending ethanol with petrol was launched at Manmad in Maharashtra during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He noted that ethanol has applications across several sectors, including transportation, industrial chemicals, medicines and hand sanitisers.
Highlighting the wider potential of ethanol, Bagade said it can be produced not only from sugarcane juice and molasses but also from maize and agricultural waste. He stressed that greater use of agricultural residues for ethanol production could create additional value for farmers while supporting India's energy transition.
Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil also highlighted the importance of ethanol production for sugar mills and the rural economy. He said ethanol can help strengthen the financial position of sugar factories and support timely payments to sugarcane farmers. The speakers also discussed the role of ethanol and alternative energy sources in addressing carbon emissions and environmental concerns. 
Pasha Patel, Chairman of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Price Commission and Executive Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Environment and Sustainable Development Task Force, said there is significant misinformation surrounding ethanol. He recalled the introduction of 5% ethanol blending in petrol during the Vajpayee government and said India subsequently progressed towards higher blending levels, including E10 and E20. He also referred to the government's push for flex-fuel vehicles capable of using higher ethanol blends, underlining the growing role of ethanol in India's future energy mix.
