The Recent Development of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the expert committee on a roadmap for ethanol blending by 2025 on June 5, 2021.
The committee was headed by Dr. Rakesh Sarwal, the Additional Secretary of NITI Aayog. It also had representatives from the Ministries of Petroleum, Food and Public Distribution, Road Transport and Highways, Heavy Industry, and Indian Oil Corporation and Automotive Research Association of India.
The E-20 roadmap lists the following milestones to be achieved:
- Increase ethanol production capacity from 700 to 1500 crore liters
- Phased rollout of E10 fuel by April 2022
- A gradual introduction of E20 beginning in April 2023 and availability by April 2025.
- The rollout of E20 material-compliant and E10 engine-tuned vehicles from April 2023
- Vehicles with E20 engines are to be produced starting on April 20.
- Educational campaign across-the-country
- Encourage the use of water-sparing crops, such as maize, to produce ethanol
- Promote technology for the production of ethanol from the non-food feedstock.
Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program
Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (EBP) is an initiative by the Government of India (GoI) under the National Policy on Biofuels. It was launched in the year 2003. It aims to promote renewable energy, reduce the import of fuels from other countries, and promote the use of environment-friendly fuels.
The government aims to mix 5% ethanol in fuel by 2020, which will increase by 20% (E20) by 2030. Ethanol needed to be blended will be sourced from domestic sources and at prices fixed by the government. This initiative will impact various sectors, including agriculture, environment, energy, etc. It will also help the farmers to earn extra income as the ethanol will be produced as a side product from Sugarcane, Maize, Bajra, Fruit and Vegetable wastes, etc.