Pune, November 28, 2024: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, hailed Dr. Pramod Chaudhari’s monumental contributions to the biofuel revolution, both in India and globally, during a special event titled ‘Amrutyog’ organized to celebrate Dr. Chaudhari’s 75th birthday. Dr. Chaudhari, the Founder Chairman of Praj Industries Ltd., has earned the title of India’s ‘Ethanol Man’ for his visionary work in the biofuel sector. Participating via video conferencing, Gadkari praised Dr. Chaudhari for dedicating his life to advancing biofuel technology and making it a cornerstone of India’s future sustainability and economic growth.
The event, held at Hotel JW Marriott on Senapati Bapat Road in Pune, saw the presence of distinguished guests, including renowned scientist Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, Chancellor of Symbiosis International University Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, Chairman of Force Motors Dr. Abhay Firodia, Persistent Systems Chairman Dr. Anand Deshpande, Praj Industries CEO and MD Shishir Joshipura, and President of Praj’s BioEnergy Business Atul Mulay. On behalf of the Shrinath Mhaskoba Sugar Factory, Dr. Chaudhari was honoured with a commemorative scroll recognizing his contributions to the sector for 4 decades.
Speaking at the event, Gadkari lauded Dr. Chaudhari’s relentless 40-year journey in biofuel research, noting his success in demonstrating the significance of ethanol as an alternative fuel. Gadkari highlighted how Dr. Chaudhari’s innovations in producing ethanol from sugarcane and various other feedstocks have revitalized the economy, citing a specific example where maize prices doubled after ethanol production began. He emphasized that scaling up ethanol production could increase the agricultural sector’s contribution to GDP and can take it to 18-20% from the current figure of 14% which will be beneficial to farmers and rural communities. Gadkari also stressed the dual importance of economic growth and environmental sustainability, pointing out that 40% of air pollution is caused by vehicles, which underscores the urgent need for alternative fuels like biofuels.
Gadkari announced that in the next five months, leading automobile manufacturers such as Mahindra, Toyota, Hyundai, and Tata would launch hundred percent ethanol vehicles, with two-wheeler manufacturers also adopting this technology. He noted that ethanol-based aviation fuel is now being developed, marking a significant leap toward sustainable transportation. He also mentioned a proposal under review by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to blend 15% ethanol into diesel, further expanding its applications.
Reflecting on Dr. Chaudhari’s immense impact, Gadkari said that explaining the complexities of ethanol and its societal benefits to the masses was no small feat, but Dr. Chaudhari had succeeded in this remarkably. His research has been instrumental in shaping India’s biofuel strategy and positioning it as a global leader in this domain. Gadkari also highlighted the broader implications of biofuel development, stating that it could transform rural India into a network of smart villages, reduce rural-to-urban migration, and lay the foundation for an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) working towards becoming the 3rd largest economy in the world. He congratulated Dr. Chaudhari on his 75th birthday and urged him to continue guiding the country toward achieving its ambitious economic and environmental goals through biofuel innovations.
Speaking at the event, eminent scientist Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar remarked that India is poised for significant progress due to the synergy between technology and policy which has been exemplified by Gadkari’s leadership and Dr. Chaudhari’s entrepreneurial research in the biofuel sector. Praj Industries CEO Shishir Joshipura delivered the opening remarks, while Atul Mulay expressed gratitude during the vote of thanks. Chaitanya Rathi anchored the program, which celebrated Dr. Chaudhari’s life’s work and its transformative impact on India’s economy and environment.