New Delhi, March 25, 2026: The All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) successfully wrapped up its Annual Distillers’ Conclave 2026 at The Grand, Vasant Kunj, bringing together policymakers, global experts, and industry leaders to discuss the future of India’s biofuel sector, sustainability goals, and the alcoholic beverages industry.
The conclave featured four key themes—emerging fuels, sustainability and innovation, flex-fuel mobility, and potable alcohol policy—creating a broad platform to address both production and demand challenges in the sector.
Speaking at the event, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food & Public Distribution, said India’s ethanol programme is at a crucial stage. With rising crude oil prices, he noted that bioenergy has become more important than ever. While the industry has already expanded its production capacity, the next step is to boost demand through higher blending targets, flex-fuel vehicles, and wider adoption of E-100 fuel. He also stressed the importance of ensuring raw material supply, highlighting government efforts to promote maize cultivation and divert broken rice from the public distribution system for ethanol production.
In his opening address, Vijendra Singh, President of AIDA, highlighted the success of India’s E20 blending programme and called for continued momentum. He said the focus should now shift to advanced biofuels like sustainable aviation fuel and compressed biogas, along with green mobility solutions supported by stable policies. He also pointed to the potential of ethanol as a household cooking fuel and export opportunities in global markets.
Robert Papa, Agriculture Attaché at the Embassy of Brazil, spoke about the conclave’s focus areas, including next-generation fuels, digital transformation in distilleries, mobility transition, and the need for predictable regulations.
Delivering the keynote, Mehraj AS emphasized the need to balance food security with energy demands. He highlighted government initiatives promoting alternative raw materials like maize and announced plans for a digital carbon market platform to encourage sustainable practices.
Throughout the discussions, experts stressed the need for a unified policy framework for biogas, increased investment in advanced fuels, and immediate solutions to manage surplus ethanol through diversified uses. Industry leaders also explored the role of AI in improving efficiency, circular economy models, and achieving net-zero distillery operations. Other key topics included GST rationalisation, infrastructure readiness, and consumer awareness to support the adoption of flex-fuel vehicles.
The session on potable alcohol policy underlined the importance of stable state policies, rational taxation, and long-term investment planning to strengthen India’s global competitiveness.
Concluding the event, Kushal Mittal, Vice President of AIDA, thanked participants and said the conclave had created a strong platform for collaboration. He added that the ideas and partnerships formed during the event would help shape a more sustainable and globally competitive distillery industry.
