India is making significant strides in its Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, with notable increases in both ethanol production and blending rates.
According to sources, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) received a total of 820.52 crore litres of ethanol during the November–August period of the current Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024–25.
Of the total ethanol supply, 526.01 crore litres came from grain-based feedstocks, while 294.51 crore litres were from sugar-based feedstocks.
In a major achievement, India has reached the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol in 2025, five years ahead of its original goal, as announced by Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri.
This remarkable progress has contributed significantly to reducing the country’s reliance on imported crude oil, resulting in substantial savings in foreign exchange.
In a move to further boost ethanol production, the Indian government has allowed sugar mills and distilleries to produce ethanol from sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, B-heavy molasses (BHM), and C-heavy molasses (CHM) during the 2025-26 Ethanol Supply Year (ESY), without imposing any restrictions.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), will periodically monitor the balance between sugar production and ethanol diversion to ensure adequate sugar availability for domestic consumption year-round.
