Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Sugar Institute (NSI), Kanpur, to develop sweet sorghum as a sustainable feedstock for bioethanol production. This partnership is a strategic step towards supporting India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme and aligns with the government’s broader push for renewable energy adoption to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. 

The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme aims to achieve 20% ethanol blending by 2025, significantly reducing India’s crude oil imports and lowering carbon emissions. Sweet sorghum, a hardy and drought-resistant crop, has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional sugarcane and maize-based ethanol production, given its lower water requirements and shorter cultivation cycle. The partnership will focus on optimising crop yield, refining agricultural practices, and enhancing juice extraction and fermentation techniques to boost ethanol output efficiently. 

As part of this collaboration, BPCL has pledged Rs 50 million towards research and development initiatives at NSI. The investment will be directed towards enhancing cultivation techniques, developing cost-effective extraction processes, and improving fermentation efficiency to increase ethanol production. In addition to ethanol production, the partnership will explore utilising sorghum biomass for compressed biogas (CBG) and other sustainable applications, ensuring a holistic approach to bioenergy. This research will also assess how biomass by-products can be repurposed for fertilisers and animal feed, further reinforcing circular economy principles. 

BPCL’s move comes at a time when the biofuels industry is gaining significant traction globally, with governments and corporations actively investing in alternative fuel sources. The Indian government has already introduced policies and incentives to encourage second-generation ethanol production, waste-to-energy projects, and biofuel adoption. With rising crude oil prices and increasing environmental concerns, the demand for sustainable energy solutions has never been higher. 

This collaboration between BPCL and NSI Kanpur not only strengthens India’s ethanol production capabilities but also underscores the growing role of academia-industry partnerships in driving innovation. As the biofuels sector evolves, such strategic initiatives will be crucial in positioning India as a global leader in sustainable fuel production, contributing to both energy security and environmental sustainability.