PM Modi launches 20% ethanol blended petrol in 11 states/UT in India

On Feb 6th, PM Modi launched 20% ethanol blended petrol at select petrol pumps across 11 states and union territories as part of a programme to increase biofuels. After launching PM Modi stated that the usage of ethanol has increased from 1.5 per cent in 2014 to 10 per cent and is now progressing to 20 per cent.

Ethanol-20 will be available at 84 petrol pumps in 11 states and Union Territories. 15 cities will be first covered in the country and in next 2 years 20 per cent blended petrol pumps will be expanded throughout the country. The country saved Rupees 54,894 crore by reducing fuel import by 10 per cent. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that India achieved blending of 10 per cent ethanol in petrol five months prior during June 2022 and now 20 per cent ethanol blended petrol is delivered on pilot ahead of schedule.

 Ethanol is extracted from sugarcane as well as broken rice and other agri produce and India is the world’s third largest consumer and importer of oil, India is currently 85 per cent dependent on imports of oil. The initiative has been taken to reduce emissions as well as dependency on foreign exchange-draining imports. 

The programme also helps sugarcane farmers an additional source of income. In the last 8 years ethanol suppliers have earned Rupees 81,796 crores whereas farmers have got Rupees 49,078 crores also it helps in reduction of 318 lakh tonnes of carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions.