New Delhi: Blending ethanol with petrol has saved the government ₹24,000 crore, with much of the benefit reaching sugarcane farmers, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday, reported PTI.
Responding to questions on behalf of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Shekhawat affirmed that ethanol blending currently stands at 12% and is envisioned to reach 20%, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goals.
While acknowledging a rise in India’s oil imports in recent years, Shekhawat emphasized the positive impact of ethanol blending: “Oil import dependency has increased, but so has the country’s growth and energy demand. The good news is that ethanol blending has saved ₹24,000 crore in the past few years, with 60-70% of this benefiting sugarcane farmers.”
Regarding environmental concerns, the minister assured that oil drilling, both offshore and onshore, adheres to strict environmental regulations. “Commercial production only commences after carefully considering environmental and other concerns,” he stated.
