The National Policy on Biofuels-2018, as amended in 2022, has identified various feedstocks for ethanol production, this inter-alia includes C & B – Heavy Molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar, sugar syrup, biomass in form of grasses, agriculture residues (rice straw, cotton stalk, corn cobs, saw dust, bagasse etc.), sugar containing materials like sugar beet, sweet sorghum, etc. and starch containing materials such as corn cassava, rotten potatoes, agro food / pulp industry waste, etc., damaged food grains like broken rice, food grains unfit for human consumption, food grains during surplus phase as declared by National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC), industrial waste, industrial waste off-gases, algal and cultivation of sea weeds etc.

Under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, the blending of ethanol with petrol increased from 38 crore litres in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2013-14 to 302.3 crore litres in ESY 2020-21 with corresponding increase in blending percentage from 1.53% to 8.17%. During the corresponding period, the consumption of petrol itself has also increased by approx. 64%. The production of fuel grade ethanol and its supply to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has increased by more than 7 times from ESY 2013-14 to ESY 2020-21. Encouraged by this performance, Government decided to advance the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to ESY 2025-26. OMCs achieved the target of 10% ethanol blending in petrol in June, 2022 i.e. five months ahead of the target during ESY 2021-22. Blending of ethanol with petrol further increased to more than 500 crore litres in ESY 2022-23 with corresponding increase in blending to 12.06%. During the current ESY 2023-24, the blending percentage has already crossed 13%.

 In order to achieve 20% ethanol blending target by ESY 2025-26, the Government has taken several measures which includes a detailed Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India; expansion of feedstock for production of ethanol; remunerative price for procurement of ethanol under the EBP Programme; lowered GST rate to 5% on ethanol for EBP Programme; amendment in Industries (Development & Regulation) Act for free movement of ethanol across states for blending; interest subvention scheme for enhancement and augmentation of ethanol production capacity in the country; regular floating of Expression of Interest (EoI) by Public Sector OMCs for procurement of ethanol.

This information was given by THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS SHRI SURESH GOPI, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today

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MONIKA