Target of blending 20% ethanol in petrol advanced to 2025: PM
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, JUN 05, 2021: THE Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi on Saturday marked World Earth Day by releasing the "Report of the Expert Committee on Road Map for ethanol blending in India 2020-2025" to meet the target of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol by 2025.
With the theme for this year's event as 'promotion of biofuels for a better environment,' the PM also launched the ambitious E-100 pilot project in Pune for the production and distribution of ethanol across the country.
"India has taken another leap by releasing a detailed roadmap for the development of the ethanol sector on the occasion of World Environment Day. He said that ethanol has become one of the major priorities of 21st century India," said Mr Modi.
He said the government has resolved to meet the target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025, pushing it forward from the previous deadline of 2030.
Till 2014, on an average, only 1.5 per cent of ethanol could be blended in India which has now reached about 8.5 per cent. In 2013-14, about 38 crore litres of ethanol was purchased which has now grown to more than 320 crore litres.
"A large part of this eightfold increase in ethanol procurement has benefitted the sugarcane farmers of the country," said the PM. Most of the ethanol manufacturing units are concentrated in four to five States which have high sugar production but foodgrain-based distilleries are expanding this to the whole country. Modern plants are also being set up to make ethanol from agricultural waste.
Mr Modi noted that India is a strong proponent of climate justice has been included in the top 10 countries of the world in the Climate Change Performance Index. He added that India is also aware of the challenges that are being faced due to climate change and is working actively.
India's capacity for renewable energy has increased by more than 250 per cent in the last seven years, with solar energy increasing by about 15 times, said the PM. Forest cover has also increased by 15,000 sq km in the last few years.
He announced that the government has identified 11 sectors which can make good use of resources by recycling them through modern technology.