New Delhi: India plans to sell only 20 per cent ethanol-blended (E20) petrol from 2025-26. The automobile manufacturers are also working to reconfigure the vehicles to ensure that E20 compatible vehicles would be available in the country from 2025 onwards.
Speaking to reporters, Petroleum Secretary, Tarun Kapoor said, “We have set a target to sell only E20 blended petrol from 2025. In the transitional period, both E20 and E10 (petrol blended with 10 per cent ethanol) will be available but at different retail outlets.”
Recently, the government has also hiked ethanol prices to boost its production in the country and achieve 20 per cent blending target.
In order to facilitate setting up advanced biofuel refineries in the country, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the fixing of higher ethanol prices derived from different sugarcane-based raw materials under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme for the forthcoming sugar season 2020-21 during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2020-21 from December 1, 2020, to November 30, 2021.
According to a statement issued by the CCEA, the price of ethanol from the C heavy molasses route has been increased from Rs 45.69 per litre to Rs 46.66 per litre. The price of ethanol from the B heavy molasses route has been increased from Rs 57.61 per litre to Rs 59.08 per litre. Further, the price of ethanol from sugarcane juice, sugar/sugar syrup route has been increased from Rs 62.65 per litre to Rs 63.45 per litre. Additionally, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and transportation charges will also be payable, according to the official statement.
