On Monday, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India’s ethanol blending program has achieved a 15 percent blending in 2024, leading to foreign exchange savings of Rs 99,014 crore over the past decade.
Speaking at the International Conference on Bioenergy, Puri emphasized that the increased use of ethanol in automotive fuels has allowed the country to replace 17.3 million metric tonnes of crude oil imports since 2014. This shift has also resulted in a reduction of 51.9 million metric tonnes in carbon emissions over the past ten years, with figures updated to July 14, 2024.
The Centre aims to reach a 20 percent ethanol blending target by the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26. Since 2014, oil marketing companies have disbursed a total of Rs 1.45 trillion to distillers, while farmers have received Rs 87,558 crore, according to reports.
Puri also noted that E20 petrol, containing 20 percent ethanol, is now available at over 15,600 outlets across the country. Additionally, the government launched E100 fuel in March, which is composed of 93-93.5 percent ethanol blended with 5 percent petrol and 1.5 percent co-solvent. With an octane rating of 100-105, E100 is promoted as ideal for high-performance engines, improving efficiency and power.
Puri highlighted that government policies have successfully managed the supply and price fluctuations of various ethanol feedstocks, ensuring price stability and reducing arrears for sugarcane farmers.
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