India to boost ethanol production as fuel prices hit record high

India is planning to boost ethanol production in view of rising petrol and diesel prices. Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that the country is working towards the goal as people are facing a heavy financial burden due to record-high fuel prices.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said India is going to increase the production of alternative fuel ethanol as people are facing problems due to a rise in the prices of petrol and diesel. Addressing a conference organised by BRICS Network University, virtually, Gadkari mentioned that automobile makers are producing flex-fuel engines in Brazil, Canada and the US, providing an alternative to customers to use 100 per cent petrol or 100 per cent bio-ethanol. "Now Indian production (of ethanol) is going to increase because of the rise in petrol prices, people are facing a lot of problems," Gadkari said while explaining that the use of ethanol is cost effective.