509 cr liters of ethanol worth Rs 24,000 cr blended in 2022-23: Centre

The Centre has said that Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have saved about 509 crore litres of petrol by the way of ethanol blending during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2022-23 the EBP Programme. The direct result of ethanol blending is that the government saved more than Rs. 24,300 crore of foreign exchange. Moreover, the ecosystem allowed expeditious payment of about Rs. 19,300 crore to the farmers of India which further bolstered the agriculture sector.

The Centre has said that Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have saved about 509 crore litres of petrol by the way of ethanol blending during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2022-23 the EBP Programme. The direct result of ethanol blending is that the government saved more than Rs. 24,300 crore of foreign exchange. Moreover, the ecosystem allowed expeditious payment of about Rs. 19,300 crore to the farmers of India which further bolstered the agriculture sector.

Government has been promoting blending of ethanol in petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme with multiple objectives including reducing import dependence, savings in foreign exchange, providing boost to domestic agriculture sector and for associated environmental benefits.

The MNRE ministry said that the government has approved assistance to a total of 1212 projects including 590 molasses-based; 474 grain-based; and 148 dual-feed based projects under interest subvention scheme to enhance ethanol production under EBP.

The Splendid Dash of Ethanol

The Government has achieved the target of 10 per cent average blending of ethanol in Petrol in the country under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme in June, 2022 i.e. five months ahead of the target. Now a target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol under EBP programme by 2025-26 is set.

As per the “Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25”, the estimated requirement for 20% ethanol blending in ESY 2025-26  is approximately 1016 crore litres and this quantity of petrol will be replaced by ethanol. This will be enough to save India $ 4 billion per annum.

Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)

The MNRE ministry says that establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) aims to address major challenges and realising the potential of biofuels. It intends to expedite the global uptake of biofuels through facilitating capacity building exercises, technical support for national programs and promoting policy lessons-sharing, technology advancements, intensifying utilization of sustainable biofuels through the participation of wide spectrum of stakeholders.  Further, it intends to facilitate development, adoption and implementation of internationally recognized standards, codes, sustainability principles, and regulations to incentivise biofuels adoption and trade.