The All-India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) has called on the government to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current E20 standard to address surplus production in the country.
Speaking at a press conference, AIDA President Vijendra Singh highlighted that ethanol producers are currently facing an oversupply of ethanol. To tackle this, he suggested that blending ethanol with diesel could provide a viable solution, while also helping utilize the excess output.
Singh proposed that the government consider raising ethanol blending in petrol from 20% to 25% and promoting flex-fuel vehicles to better manage the surplus. He added that clear guidance on these measures would allow industry stakeholders to maximize the benefits of investments already made in production capacity.
Currently, India has 380 distilleries, both sugar- and grain-based, dedicated to ethanol production. Plans are also in place to establish an additional 33 distilleries in the near future, further expanding domestic capacity.
