India breaches 15% ethanol blending in May: Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced that India has successfully breached the 15 per cent ethanol blending in the month of May. Puri held that the country is just on track to reach the 20 per cent ethanol blending target by 2025.

Upon assuming office, Puri addressed the media, highlighting the accelerated goal, originally set for 2030, as a testament to India’s commitment to diversifying its energy matrix. “In the month of May only, we were able to cross 15 per cent of ethanol blending. Based on the current progress, I am reasonably confident that the 20 per cent blending target will be completed by the year 2025,” Puri stated.

Puri also emphasized India’s efforts to integrate biofuels and launch green hydrogen projects to reduce carbon emissions. “The first green hydrogen plant (10 MW) was commissioned on 27th May 2024, even as elections were on. Many of our Oil PSUs are in the process of issuing tenders for the supply of green hydrogen,” he said.

He highlighted the operational green hydrogen station at Kochi, which services buses from Kochi Airport, as a significant step towards sustainable public transportation.

Discussing the broader energy landscape, Puri noted the expansion of LPG coverage under the Ujjwala scheme and anticipated increases in oil and gas production. He also held that India’s LPG connections have increased from 14 crore in 2014 to 32 crore now, and oil production from the 98/2 well will soon reach 45,000 barrels on every day basis.

Puri also mentioned ongoing projects to enhance the nation’s refining capabilities. “BPCL is in the advanced stages of setting up greenfield refineries, and the Cauvery Basin Refinery by IOCL in Chennai is progressing, which will further boost our refining capacity,” Puri said.

E20 being sold at 14,611 PSU outlets

The new data in the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) Monthly Ready Reckoner report has revealed that as on 01-06-2024, 14,611 PSU outlets out of 81,698 total PSU Retail Outlets are dispensing E20 Ethanol Blended MS.

The report also mentioned that the ethanol blending with Petrol was 15.4% during May 2024 and cumulative ethanol blending during November 2023- May 2024 was 12.6%. PPAC is attached to the MoPNG Ministry.