India achieves 10% ethanol blending in petrol: PM Modi
On the occasion of the 50th World Environment Day celebrated worldwide on June 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India has achieved a milestone of 10% ethanol blending in petrol, five months ahead of schedule.
India had set itself a target of achieving 10% ethanol blending by end of 2022 and 20% by end of 2030. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP), which is a flagship program of the Government of India is aimed at reducing India's reliance on crude oil imports, lowering carbon emissions, and boosting farmers' income. PM Modi released the "Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25", on the occasion of World Environment Day in June 2021, which laid out an annual plan for the gradual rollout of 20% ethanol blended petrol in the country by 2025-26, of which 10% blending was set as an intermediate milestone.
India's Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), under the guidance of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) and the support of ethanol suppliers, have been blending ethanol in petrol under the EBP Program. PM Modi attributed this milestone achievement to the coordinated effort between three OMCs – IndianOil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum.
The ethanol blending percentage has improved from 2.33% in 2014 to the present 10% blending (June 2022) enabling forex savings of over Rs.41,500 crore, reduced GHG emissions of 27 lakh MT and payment of over Rs.40,600 crore to farmers, according to the Government of India official statement.
In order to meet the gap between current availability and future requirements, the public sector OMCs, under the guidance of MoPNG have now signed long-term off-take agreements with 131 upcoming dedicated ethanol plants in ethanol deficit states which will augment the ethanol production capacity by approximately 750 crore liters per annum.
The public sector OMCs are also making huge investments in augmenting the blending infrastructure at their terminals and depots. To achieve uniform blending across the country, the OMCs are now transporting ethanol as well as ethanol-blended petrol over long distances with the help of Railway Tank Wagons.
