Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has emphasized the necessity for India to aim for 100% ethanol blending in vehicle fuels to mitigate the country's heavy reliance on oil imports, which currently stands at 87% of its requirements, costing around ₹22 lakh crore (approximately $2.65 trillion USD). Speaking at the Indian Federation of Green Energy's Green Transport Conclave in New Delhi, he pointed out that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has exposed vulnerabilities in energy supply, making self-reliance critical. Gadkari noted that India rolled out E20 petrol last year, which contains 20% ethanol. He also stressed the need to boost the production of alternative fuels and biofuels to combat air pollution. Furthermore, he highlighted the potential of green hydrogen to meet future energy demands, although he acknowledged challenges related to its cost and transportation. Gadkari suggested exploring hydrogen production from waste to enhance energy independence.