Environmental-friendly fuels like ethanol are a top priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Under Modi’s leadership, India is rapidly advancing toward achieving the target of 20% ethanol blending by 2025, he said. The increase in ethanol production from maize and other food grains is proving to be helpful in achieving this goal. This has not only led to progress in maize cultivation, increased the income of farmers but has also created many employment opportunities in rural areas.
He added that indeed, major reforms in the past decade have transformed India’s energy sector in terms of its ability to improve energy availability, affordability, and sustainability. Expanding Ujjwala connections to ensure smoke-free kitchens, increasing refining capacity to develop a new India, and supporting green initiatives like ethanol blending to promote sustainability and affordability are some of the key efforts underway. Together, these initiatives are powering a brighter, cleaner future that prioritizes both people and the planet, contributing to India’s journey toward energy independence.
It’s worth noting that in July, ethanol blending in petrol reached 15.8%, and the cumulative ethanol blending between November 2023 and July 2024 reached 13.3%.