Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Sanjeev Chopra said on Tuesday that efforts are underway in the country to explore ethanol as a possible alternative to LPG, with preliminary work on ethanol-based cooking solutions already underway, even as the government seeks to increase demand for biofuels.
He noted that the move is being evaluated “particularly in light of the LPG issues that have emerged recently.” Recent conflict in West Asia has disrupted supplies to India via the Strait of Hormuz, leading to local shortages recently and pushing up prices.
“We have seen ethanol-based cooking stoves being exhibited as a basic model. In case there is an increase, then we have to ensure that safety and availability are ensured,” Sanjeev Chopra said in remarks during the AIDA 2025 annual conclave held in the state capital, according to ANI.
He said efforts are also underway to test the delivery logistics needed for such a shift. “We can probably do an experiment in a distillery facility where the supply chain can be created better and easier,” Chopra said.
Chopra noted that work on using ethanol as an alternative cooking fuel is still in its early stages.
“So those studies are still ongoing. It’s very early,” he noted.
On the broader ethanol program, Chopra said that supply capacity was in line with the needs of the oil sector, adding that supply-side constraints were no longer an issue, although only 30% blending had been achieved.
He said the government is now focusing on increasing demand and is considering multiple options, including increasing the blending percentage, blending ethanol with diesel and using textile by-products.
He added that this is among the options available to the government and a decision will be taken accordingly.
On feedstock availability, Chopra said the lower offtake of broken rice for ethanol was due to reduced allocation by oil marketing companies.
Chopra said higher allocations from oil companies will help ensure that demand does not become a constraint. He added that the diversion of supply from Food Corporation of India rice to broken rice could also give a further boost to ethanol production.
Rice quality under PDS
Separately, he said the government is testing measures to improve the quality of rice under the Public Distribution System (PDS), with a pilot project currently underway in five states.
He stated, “Now this year we have done a pilot project where the rice we produce from the mill has a smaller fractional percentage of 10% compared to the 25% that was there before.”
He said the initiative could be expanded over time to enable the supply of better quality rice through PDS.
He added that additional broken rice generated by the process could then be supplied to industries that use it as feedstock, including ethanol producers.
Chopra said the program is still in the pilot phase and will require necessary approvals before it can be rolled out across the country.
