While the innovation offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based bitumen and could reduce imports, industry players are seeking buyback guarantees to ensure commercial viability

Entrepreneurs want buyback guarantees to start setting up plants to produce bio-bitumen as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Monday signed an agreement with 10 companies to transfer the technology, which uses straw of paddy, wheat, maize or cashew to produce the key raw material used in road construction. In January 2026, CSIR had already transferred the technology to 14 companies, out of which one company in Puducherry has started production.

Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal, director of Ludhiana-based Straw Bio Fuels, who signed the technology transfer agreement, said he is awaiting details from CSIR and that this provides a good opportunity for him to produce bitumen, since he is already procuring paddy straw and selling it to interested parties.

Output potential from crop residue

According to G Bharath, a principal scientist at CSIR’s Delhi-based Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), there can be about 165 litres of bitumen made from one tonne of straw, though it marginally varies according to the crop, with cashew straws providing the maximum quantity. Besides, he said, from the straw gas and crop nutrients can also be derived in equal share as bitumen, which is made from oil extracted from straw.

Technology offers sustainable alternative

Developed over years of research, the bio-bitumen technology utilises agricultural biomass and crop residues as feedstock through a thermochemical conversion process, producing a renewable, environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based bitumen, the government said in a statement. The technology has demonstrated performance equivalent to conventional bitumen while offering substantial environmental and economic benefits, and has been developed for adoption by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in road construction.

Officials said that India can completely do away with imports and also allow exports of the surplus if it decides to convert the entire crop residue, estimated at 600 million tonnes (mt) per year. Officials said that out of about 8 mt of bitumen used annually in the country, as much as 50 per cent is directly imported, while the remaining half is produced by domestic refiners from crude oil.

Government backs bio-bitumen push

Addressing the technology transfer event, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the development of bio-bitumen technology as a “historic and transformative step” that connects agriculture with infrastructure and innovation. He said that adopting bio-bitumen aligns strongly with India’s climate commitments, Net Zero targets, and flagship initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, the National Bio-Energy Mission, and circular economy frameworks.

The use of farm residue for high-value infrastructure applications also offers farmers additional income opportunities while reducing stubble burning and environmental pollution, he added.

CSIR highlights innovation push

The technology titled “Bio-Bitumen from Lignocellulosic Biomass – From Farm Residue to Roads” marks a paradigm shift from petro-based to bio-based materials, said CSIR’s Director General N Kalaiselvi. She reiterated CSIR’s commitment to regular technology rollouts for national development as part of a target to announce 1-2 innovations every month.

Supports clean energy and self-reliance goals

Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said that the initiative reflects India’s commitment to self-reliance, clean energy transition, and the principle of “Waste to Wealth.” He added that the bio-bitumen technology has demonstrated promising performance in terms of durability, compatibility with conventional bitumen, and reduced carbon footprint, making it suitable for large-scale implementation in national highway projects.

Published on March 30, 2026