India has achieved the target of 20 percent of the ethanol mixture in petrol by March this year. According to many knowledgeable sources in this case, India is now preparing to present the new target of 30 percent ethanol mixture by 2030. In the initial phase, a target of 20 per cent was set by 2030 but later the period was reduced to 2024-25 ethanol supply year (1 November to 31 October). In the Ethanol Supplies Year (ESY) 2023-24, a mixture of ethanol in petrol reached 14.6 per cent on average. This was an important increase in compared to 12.06 per cent of ESY 2022-23. Officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified that the inter-ministers’ consultation agreed to increase the target of the national mixture to 30 per cent by the end of this decade.
Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have saved foreign currency of about Rs 1.2 lakh crore by mixing ethanol in the last 10 years and in this order 193 lakh tonnes of crude oil have been mixed with ethanol instead of crude oil. According to the Indian Sugar and Bio Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), farmers have been paid Rs 1.04 lakh crores in the last 10 years due to a mixture of ethanol in petrol.
The official said, “It is not a confidential thing that the target of 20 percent in our long -term policy is being carried forward. The primary discussion is being held on the fact that a phased approach should be adopted or further on the same goal. According to Isma Director General Deepak Balani, the mixture was around 10-14 percent last year. We have achieved a target of around 19-20 percent this year. We are going to use about 35 lakh tonnes from the Chinese region, which is more than 21 lakh tonnes in the past year. This is five years before our 2030 target.
First Published – April 13, 2025 | 10:43 pm IST
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