India achieves 20pc Ethanol blending target 5 years ahead of schedule

NEW DELHI, Jul 6: India has achieved its target of blending 20 per cent ethanol with petrol five years ahead of schedule, marking a major milestone in the country's biofuel programme aimed at reducing dependence on imported crude oil and promoting cleaner transport fuels.

According to the government, ethanol blending has increased from less than 1.5 per cent in 2013-14 to 20 per cent in 2025-26 under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

Ethanol procurement has grown from about 38 crore litres in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2013-14 to a projected over 1,200 crore litres in 2025-26, while production capacity has expanded nearly fivefold from 421 crore litres in 2014 to around 2,000 crore litres in 2026.

The government said the programme has helped save more than Rs 1.90 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014-15 by substituting over 310 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil.

It has also reduced carbon dioxide emissions by around 930 lakh metric tonnes and generated additional farmer earnings exceeding Rs 1.60 lakh crore through increased demand for feedstocks such as sugarcane, maize, and surplus rice.

Alongside the progress report, the government issued clarifications on several concerns related to E20 fuel, stating that there is no evidence of widespread engine damage or invalidation of vehicle warranties due to the use of ethanol-blended petrol.

It also said claims of a 30 per cent reduction in fuel efficiency are misleading, as the figure refers to ethanol's lower energy content and not actual on-road mileage. According to the government, vehicle maintenance, driving conditions, and driving habits have a greater influence on fuel economy.

The government further clarified that ethanol used for blending is produced through industrial fermentation and distillation processes and is different from raw sugarcane juice. It said modern ethanol plants use limited processed water and operate under Zero Liquid Discharge systems, while only surplus rice approved after meeting food security requirements is diverted for ethanol production.

The release noted that ethanol blending has been adopted in several countries, including the United States, Brazil, Japan, Canada, Thailand, and a number of European nations as part of their transport fuel programmes.

The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme is part of India's broader strategy to reduce crude oil imports, strengthen energy security, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and increase the use of domestically produced renewable fuels.

(UNI)