Business: Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that the Government of India has saved more than 99 thousand crore rupees by mixing ethanol in petrol and diesel. With the help of the Government of India's ethanol mixing program, 17.3 million metric tonnes of crude oil was used less. Also, 51.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have also been reduced. Hardeep Singh Puri has called the ethanol mixing program a success and has also approved increasing its production and use as much as possible. 

The target of 15% ethanol mixing was achieved 

The Union Minister said on Monday that with the help of the ethanol mixing program since 2014, we have saved Rs 99,014 crore in foreign exchange. He also said that the government has achieved the target of 15 percent ethanol mixing. Now it has to be taken to 20 percent by the ethanol supply year 2025-26. Speaking at the International Conference on Bioenergy, Hardeep Singh Puri said that the increasing use of ethanol in automotive fuel has given the country an option of 17.3 million metric tonnes of crude oil since 2014. If the ethanol mixing program was not going on, we would have had to import this much crude oil.  

Petroleum Minister said- carbon emissions also decreased 

He said that the ethanol mixing program has also reduced carbon emissions by 51.9 million metric tons in the last decade. These figures are till July 14, 2024. Oil marketing companies have paid Rs 1.45 trillion to distillers since 2014 while farmers have been paid about Rs 87,558 crore. The Petroleum Minister said that E20 petrol (20 percent ethanol mixed petrol) is now available at more than 15,600 petrol pumps in the country. The central government also launched E100 fuel in March. It contains 5 percent petrol and 1.5 percent solvent and 93-93.5 percent ethanol. It is excellent for high performance engines with its high octane rating. This increases the power of the engine. 

FCI starts supply of rice to ethanol distilleries

Hardeep Singh Puri said that the government has resumed the supply of rice to ethanol distilleries from the Food Corporation of India. This has allowed them to purchase up to 23 lakh tonnes of rice through e-auction from August 2024 to October 2024. Along with this, in an effort to increase ethanol production, the supply of sugarcane juice and syrup to distilleries will start from November 2024. The government has also given additional incentives for ethanol supply.