Ethanol Blending Rollout Program In India

Achieving energy security and transitioning to a thriving low-carbon economy is critical for a growing nation like India. India has been a net importer of petroleum. It imported 185 Mt at US $ 551 billion in 2020-21, most of which is used in transportation.

Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program

Ethanol is a less polluting fuel and offers equivalent efficiency at a lower cost than petrol. Blending locally produced ethanol with petrol will help India strengthen its energy security, enable local enterprises and farmers to participate in the energy economy, and reduce vehicular emissions. The Government of India notified the National Policy on Biofuels –2018 (NPB–2018) on 4.6.2018 wherein, under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program, an indicative target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol by 2030 was laid out.

The Central Government has targeted the E20 blending program for vehicles by 2025, i.e., advancement by five years from an earlier target of 2030. It is estimated that a well-laid-out and effective implementation of the E20 program can save the country US $4 billion annually (approx. Rs. 30,000 cr. Annually).

Rising production of foodgrains and sugarcane, technological advancement in ethanol production from plant-based sources, SIAM working on the feasibility of…