Corn must become India’s new crude - The Statesman
For India to become Atma Nirbhar and achieve its ambition of a $5 trillion economy, the solution to one of its biggest vulnerabilities – dependence on imported petroleum and LNG – is already in front of us.
For India to become Atma Nirbhar and achieve its ambition of a $5 trillion economy, the solution to one of its biggest vulnerabilities – dependence on imported petroleum and LNG – is already in front of us. By adopting a focused five-year plan, India can drastically reduce its chronic energy import dependency and accelerate toward energy self-reliance, food security, and decarbonization. India’s annual petroleum import bill stands at Rs 24 lakh crore and is growing at an alarming pace.
By 2030, imports of petroleum, LNG, and petrochemical feedstocks are projected to rise steeply, by ending eningthe economy and undermining national security. Nearly 85 per cent of India’s petroleum demand is met through imports, a figure that will only climb with GDP growth if corrective action is not taken. Petroleum-fuelled vehicles alone contribute nearly 40 per cent of India’s environmental pollution, especially in cities like Delhi, which already ranks among the most polluted globally.
Unless India shifts gears, the dual crisis of import dependency and pollution will derail its growth story. The solution is a corn revolution. India must emulate the Brazilian model , which successfully transitioned to ethanol-based fuels. Brazil has mandated flex-fuel vehicles that run on 100 per cent hydrous ethanol (92 per cent ethanol + 8 p er cent water), reducing pollution and petroleum dependence for over 30 years.
India’s demand is clear: 35 million tons/year of gasoline Growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel (RD), and ethylene for petrochemicals This can be fully met by producing 70 million tons of ethanol annually, requiring about 200 million tons of corn. A global comparison shows that while the USA produces 400+ million tons of corn/year; China 300+ million tons/year, Brazil (with just a seventh of India’s population) 150 million tons/year, India produces just 45 million tons/year but with a potential for 200 million tons within 5 years. With India’s 2–3 crop cycles per year, hybrid dent corn seeds, and modern practices, productivity can surpass the US.
The key advantages of corn as the new crude oil are: Energy Security: Reduced reliance on imports that are vulnerable to wars, sanctions, and tariffs. Rural Prosperity: Direct economic gains for farmers and rural India. Economic Savings: Billions saved on imports, fuelling GDP growth. Food & Nutrition Security: Corn by-products include food, animal feed, edible oil, and beverage-grade CO2. Clean Air: Sharp reduction in city pollution – India hosts 10 of the world’s most polluted cities. Edible Oil Independence: Corn ethanol production would yield 4 million tons/year of corn oil, cutting palm oil imports (over $20 billion annually).
Corn can produce not only biofuels (ethanol, methanol, SAF, RD) but also protein meal for livestock; cooking oil (a healthier alternative to palm oil); beverage-grade CO2 and dry ice; ethylene and downstream polymers and green hydrogen (with minimal power input). This makes corn the most versatile and strategic crop for India’s energy transition. The Ministry of Petroleum recently approved $100 billion for petroleum-based ethylene crackers. This is counterproductive.
The same ethylene can be produced from corn ethanol at just 30 to 40 per cent of the capital cost – with cleaner environmental impact and massive rural benefits. It is time we learnt from global successes. In the USA, 200 ethanol plants produce 60 million tons/year, nearly double India’s gasoline demand. In Brazil, flex-fuel cars run on 100 per cent ethanol or blends. California promotes E85 fuel (85 per cent ethanol + 15 per cent gasoline). India’s strength is that with short 110-day crop cycles, India can scale up corn production faster than any global competitor.
Past success stories show this is possible. The use of Bt Cotton (2002) turned India from cotton importer to global leader in a decade. The use of GM Brinjal in Bangladesh increased crop productivity dramatically. A similar adoption of fuel-purpose yellow dent corn seeds can transform India’s economy. The following actions recommended: Establish mega bio-ethanol plants (1200–1500 KLPD) via oil sector refineries. Build 10 new corn-based green ethylene complexes at a fraction of petroleum cracker costs.
Transition existing petrochemical crackers (IOC, BPCL, GAIL, RIL, Adani) from petroleum/LNG to corn. Declare Corn Production as a National Mission, with priority support equal to the Green Hydrogen Mission. Secure international corn supply agreements (Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine, USA) as a stop-gap until domestic capacity scales.
The health and environmental gains from such a strategy will include reduced PM2.5 pollution and improved urban air quality; Corn oil as a heart-healthy substitute for palm oil and contribution to India’s Net Zero 2070 goals. Corn is the new crude oil. It offers not just fuels and petrochemicals but also food, feed, oil, and CO value chains. With the right policies, India can achieve energy security; food security and decarbonization. Declaring Corn Production as a National Mission will make India truly Atma Nirbhar, resilient against oil cartels, and firmly on the path to becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
(The writer is Chair, Environment & Green Hydrogen Committee, PHDCCI and Managing Director, Greenstat Hydrogen India Pvt. Ltd. He can be reached at jpglobalconsultinggroup@gmail.com)
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