India has achieved the target of 10 per cent ethanol blending in petrol five months before deadline, PM Narendra Modi announced on Sunday during an event on the ‘Save Soil Movement’. In 2014, the level of ethanol blending in petrol in India was 2 per cent which has now increased to 10 per cent now.
PM Modi said that this increase in the last 8 years has cut down the carbon emission by 27 lakh tonnes and saved Rs 41,000 crore of forex reserve. This has also brought Rs 40,000 crore of income to farmers, he added.
India has set another target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by the year 2025 (commonly known as the E20 target).
In his address, the PM also stated that India has achieved its goal of having 40 per cent of its installed power generation from non-fossil fuel-based sources 9 years before the deadline.
National Biofuel Policy
Meanwhile, introduced 4 years back in 2018, the National Biofuel Policy aims at slashing the dependence on imports by relying on fuel blending. With bioethanol, biodiesel and bio CNG main fuels in focus, it includes the Ethanol Blending Programme (EPB), which includes the production of second generation ethanol (derived from forest and agricultural residues). It also enhances the capacity to produce fuel additives, R&D in feedstock.
The report released by the “Expert Committee on Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India by 2025” stated that the 20 per cent ethanol blending target is within reach. It further stated the annual plan for gradually rolling out the E20 ethanol in India.
The E20 target can benefit India in immense ways. It can save Rs 30,000 crore of foreign exchange per year, along with other perks like energy security, lower carbon emissions, better air quality, self-reliance, use of damaged food grains, increasing farmers’ incomes, employment generation, and greater investment opportunities.
