India imports much of the fossil fuels that are consumed. Key nodal agencies are known to have recommended that methanol be given preference to achieve energy independence. Transport minister Nitin Gadkari is known to have expressed that petroleum imports must be eliminated. He is known to have expressed further that against India’s annual spend of Rs. 4.5 lakh crore on petroleum product import, methanol could well be a cost effective import substitution. While methanol is claimed to be a good replacement for petrol, Dimethyl Ether (DME) is said to be a good and cleaner alternative to diesel.