Government has been promoting blending of ethanol in petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme with multiple objectives including reducing import dependence, savings in foreign exchange, providing boost to domestic agriculture sector and for associated environmental benefits.
Under EBP Programme, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have saved approximately 509 crore litres of petrol on account of ethanol blending during the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2022-23 resulting in savings of more than Rs. 24,300 crore of foreign exchange and expeditious payment of about Rs. 19,300 crore to farmers bolstering the agriculture sector, said Minister of state for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, the minister said that, Government has approved assistance to a total of 1212 projects including 590 molasses-based; 474 grain-based; and 148 dual-feed based projects under interest subvention scheme to enhance ethanol production under EBP.
