India Saves $19.3B in Forex via Ethanol Blending, Aims for 100 GW Nuclear by 2047

India has achieved nearly 20% ethanol blending, resulting in significant foreign exchange savings and substantial direct payments to farmers over the last decade. The government is pursuing a diversified energy strategy, including a major expansion of nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047. Minister Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized that conventional energy remains essential alongside the rapid growth of renewables to meet India's rising global energy share. Significant sector reforms and investment opportunities in shipping and Global Capability Centres were also highlighted.

Key Points: India's $19.3B Forex Savings from 20% Ethanol Blending, 100 GW Nuclear Goal

  • $19.3B forex savings from ethanol blending
  • 100 GW nuclear capacity target by 2047
  • $15B+ direct payments to farmers
  • Energy demand to rise 30-35% by 2050
  • Reforms in upstream oil & gas sector
3 min read

India saved USD 19.3 billion in forex with 20% ethanol blending, targets 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047: Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announces India saved $19.3B in forex via 20% ethanol blending and targets 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 at India Energy Week.

"The history of energy has never been about replacement alone. It has been about addition. - Hardeep Singh Puri"

Goa, January 27

India achieved nearly 20% ethanol blending in Ethanol Supply Year 2025, resulting in foreign exchange savings of approximately USD 19.3 billion and direct payments exceeding USD 15 billion to farmers over the last decade, said Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, on Tuesday. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 4th India Energy Week 2026 in Goa, the Minister detailed India's strategy to balance energy transition with economic security for clean energy targets.

The Minister stated that India remains on track to meet its compressed biogas targets as part of a broader push into bioenergy. He noted that while renewables have grown from "one-fifth to nearly one-third" of global electricity generation, conventional energy remains a necessity to meet rising demand.

"The history of energy has never been about replacement alone. It has been about addition," Puri said, adding that "while renewable and alternative energy sources are expanding at pace, conventional energy will remain essential."

Addressing the country's future energy requirements, Puri said, "By 2050, India's share of global energy demand is projected to rise by nearly 30-35%, reaching around 10 percent of the total global energy demand."

To meet this, the government is expanding capacity across the full energy mix, including raising its nuclear ambition to 100 GW by 2047. This is supported by the Atomic Energy Bill 2025 SHANTI, which modernizes the nation's nuclear legal framework.

Puri highlighted significant reforms in the upstream sector, including the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025, which introduced single petroleum leases and long-term stability. Preliminary assessments from recently concluded exploration rounds in deep-water acreages are promising, leading to select drilling efforts.

"While fuel prices rose significantly in many major economies after 2021, prices in Delhi in 2025 remained lower than in 2021. For over 100 million PMUY beneficiaries, LPG prices have been maintained at around 5.5 - 6 US dollars per cylinder, among the lowest globally," he said.

The petroleum sector now accounts for 28 per cent of India's trade volume by weight at ports. With an USD 8 billion government package for shipbuilding, the Minister identified a near-term investment opportunity of USD 5 billion for approximately 60 vessels required for the oil and gas trade.

Furthermore, India's Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are projected to reach a revenue of USD 105 billion by 2030, supported by nearly 2,400 centers. "In just five years, their combined revenue has jumped from USD 40.4 billion in FY19 to USD 64.6 billion in FY24, with growth rate of 9.8% annually. The sector is projected to reach USD 105 billion by 2030, supported by nearly 2,400 GCCs employing over 2.8 million professionals," he noted.

"May India Energy Week serve as a catalyst for collective progress and a forum where solutions are shaped for the benefit of the world," Puri concluded.

Earlier in the day, Puri met Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa and H.E. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC MD and Group CEO, UAE.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the ethanol blending success is commendable, I hope the 100 GW nuclear target by 2047 is pursued with extreme caution and transparency. Safety and proper waste management must be the top priority, not just capacity numbers.
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Rohit P
Maintaining LPG prices for PMUY beneficiaries is a great relief for crores of families. The real test is ensuring these cylinders reach every rural household without leakage or corruption in the supply chain.
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Sarah B
The focus on a full energy mix is pragmatic. You can't just switch off fossil fuels overnight, especially with India's projected 30-35% rise in energy demand. The 'addition, not just replacement' approach makes sense for a growing economy.
K
Karthik V
$15 billion to farmers is the most heartening part. If this money is actually reaching the small and marginal farmers in states like UP, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, it can transform rural economies. Hope the data on beneficiary distribution is made public.
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Michael C
The shipbuilding investment opportunity is interesting. Building our own fleet for oil and gas trade aligns with the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision. It creates jobs and reduces logistical costs in the long run.

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