India to Mandate Diesel-Isobutanol Blending by Year-End

India is set to introduce a mandate for blending isobutanol with diesel by the end of this year, aiming to enhance energy security and lower carbon emissions across national highways. This initiative was announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Secretary, Umashankar, at a recent transportation summit.

Umashankar highlighted the ministry's preparedness to launch draft notifications for the interchangeability of truck-trailers, promoting infrastructure for battery-swapping and charging electric commercial vehicles. The ministry also aims to advance ethanol blending programs and promote vehicles powered by alternative fuels, including hydrogen, setting the stage for a more sustainable transport sector.

The ministry's efforts align with India's broader strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while embracing green technologies, such as Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling systems and advanced traffic management, to enhance transport efficiency.

(With inputs from agencies.)