India is set to achieve its 20 percent ethanol blending target, likely ahead of target, with the milestone expected to be reached next month.
While speaking at the 3rd International Symposium for Thriving Co-Energy in Mobility, nion Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri explained that the original target for 20 percent ethanol blending was set for 2030. However, the target was revised to the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26, and it now seems India will meet this goal by next month. He expressed his gratitude to industry bodies such as SIAM, ISMA, and other stakeholders who have played a key role in this achievement. He added, “We are not only confident about reaching the 20 percent target ahead of schedule, but like Brazil and other countries, we are already looking ahead to what the journey beyond 20 percent will look like.”
India recently recorded its highest-ever ethanol blending rate in December 2024. During the ongoing ESY 2024-25, ethanol blending in petrol reached 18.2 percent in December, and the cumulative ethanol blending from November to December 2024 stood at 16.4 percent.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), the ethanol supply under the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP) has increased significantly, rising from 38 crore liters in ESY 2013-14 to 707.4 crore liters in ESY 2023-24, achieving an average blending rate of 14.6 percent.
To further boost ethanol production, the government recently lowered the price of FCI rice for distilleries producing ethanol, reducing it from Rs 2,800 per quintal to Rs 2,250 per quintal.
The government’s target is to reach 20 percent ethanol blending by ESY 2025-26, with the required ethanol supply estimated at around 1,016 crore liters, or 1,350 crore liters when accounting for other uses. This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to reduce dependence on imported fuels.
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