On Tuesday, Brazilian Ambassador Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nobrega expressed support for the idea of India exporting ethanol, calling it “great news” if India has a surplus to offer. He highlighted that expanding the number of countries exporting ethanol could help elevate it to a globally significant commodity, a goal that Brazil strongly supports.
“If there is surplus to export ethanol, it’s a good idea. I think that more countries exporting ethanol can make ethanol an important commodity throughout the world. And we want to promote ethanol as a world commodity. So for Brazil, it’s great news if this will happen,” he said in response to a question from ANI about India’s potential ethanol exports.
He emphasized the importance of promoting ethanol as a global commodity, encouraging more nations to participate in its trade. A commodity is typically a raw material that is traded globally, falling into categories such as hard commodities like crude oil and gold, and soft commodities like agricultural products such as wheat and coffee.
India and Brazil have been strengthening their collaboration in the bioenergy sector, particularly focusing on advancing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and meeting higher ethanol blending targets. Ambassador Haczynski da Nobrega noted that the partnership between the two countries has grown over the past few years as both align their clean energy goals.
“Our bilateral relations in terms of bioenergy have been booming now for some years,” he remarked during the 13th Bio-Energy Summit, which focused on “Fuelling India’s Green Revolution: Forging Global Partnerships.” He also pointed out that Brazil has been sharing its expertise on incorporating ethanol into gasoline mixtures and developing engines capable of running on 100% ethanol or various blends.
For the past five to six years, Brazil has actively contributed to India’s ethanol development, the Ambassador noted. He referenced the commitment made during Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to Brazil in July to further enhance this collaboration.
The Ambassador also discussed the role of the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), co-led by India and Brazil, in advocating for ethanol as a crucial solution for decarbonizing nations in the Global South. “The Global Biofuel Alliance is now the place where Brazil and India are not only strengthening and deepening their collaboration but also promoting ethanol as a solution to decarbonisation to the world,” he said.
India, which has already reached a 20% ethanol blend in its gasoline, is now working toward a 30% target. The Ambassador underlined that while specific deadlines are not set, both countries are making steady progress in bioenergy integration.
“We cannot talk about deadlines. We can talk about steady progress. As you have now reached 20 per cent mix of ethanol and gasoline, we are about to reach 30 per cent mix,” he added, noting India’s emerging focus on sustainable aviation fuel as well.
The two countries are also increasing their cooperation in other sectors such as energy, agriculture, defense, and pharmaceuticals. Brazil is particularly keen to learn from India’s successful implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). “India has a very valuable experience in promoting DPIs in your country. So we want to learn from you,” said the Ambassador.
Brazil has also made strides in flex-fuel technology, which allows vehicles to run on any ethanol-gasoline blend. “The flex-fuel motor is the successful experience of Brazil in moving towards larger blends of ethanol and gasoline,” the Ambassador explained, adding that cars with flex-fuel engines face no technical limitations in using various ethanol blends.
The growing partnership between India and Brazil, especially through the Global Biofuel Alliance, is becoming an important driver of global decarbonization efforts. However, Tarun Sawhney, Chairman of the CII National Committee on Bioenergy, cautioned that the development of sustainable aviation fuel would require significant investment and time.
The summit also focused on the role of crops like sugar, rice, and maize in India’s ethanol program, which supports energy security and benefits farmers. Sawhney highlighted India’s achievement of a 20% ethanol blend, with plans to increase it to 27%, and the potential for flex-fuel vehicles running on E100 (100% ethanol).
Additionally, the Indian government recently approved the export of Second Generation (2G) ethanol. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification on September 24 allowing the export of 2G ethanol, which is produced from non-food sources like bagasse, agricultural residues, and other renewable materials. This ethanol must meet specific sustainability criteria, including low CO2 emissions, and must be certified by relevant authorities before export.
