India’s ethanol blending reaches 16.9%, says Hardeep Singh Puri

Just as the quest of the nation for green energy is gaining unprecedented pace in all segments, the Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has held that India has achieved the ethanol blending in fuel to the tune of 16.9%.

The minister held that the country’s green energy journey is powered by its farmers & driven by vision. Talking on social media, Puri added that in the past one decade, the farmers of India have earned Rs 92,409 crore from their harvests by the way of ethanol blending thing.

Hardeep Singh Puri also stated that India has saved Rs 1.08 lakh crore in foreign exchange which is further strengthening the economy.

“From turning agricultural waste into energy to facilitating green hydrogen production, every step counts. Under PM Narendra Modi ji’s leadership, this transformation is about more than energy – it is about cleaner skies, empowered communities & a self-sufficient future. A greener, cleaner India is no longer a distant goal – it is a reality in motion!,” said Puri.

The government is implementing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme across the country, enabling Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to sell petrol blended with ethanol. As the ethanol blending has gained quite a speed in the past few years, mainly due to policy interventions, the government has also preponed the 20% ethanol blending target from 2030 to 2025.

India’s ethanol production capacity has significantly increased, growing from 518 crore liters in 2017-18 to an impressive 1,623 crore liters by 2023-24 (as of August 31, 2024), according to the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD). This growth highlights the government’s dedication to promoting a more sustainable and greener future.