Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) on Saturday and said we are moving towards achieving 20 per cent ethanol blending target in petrol.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 32nd International Association of Agricultural Economists at the National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex in Delhi, PM Modi said, “our ethanol blending program is also benefiting both agriculture and the environment. We are rapidly moving towards achieving 20 per cent ethanol blending target in petrol.”
Recalling the last International Conference of Agricultural Economists that took place in India 65 years ago, the Prime Minister mentioned that India was a newly independent nation making it a challenging time for India’s food security and agriculture. Today, the Prime Minister said, India is a food surplus country, the largest producer of milk, pulses and spices, and the second largest producer of food grain, fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar, tea and farmed fish. He recalled the time when India’s food security was a matter of concern for the world while today, India is providing solutions to global food and nutrition security. Therefore, the Prime Minister said that India’s experience is valuable for discussions on food system transformation and is sure to benefit the global south.
Recently, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi informed that ethanol production capacity has increased to 1,589 crore litres per annum, till date which is sufficient to meet domestic ethanol requirement of the country.
In June, ethanol blending with Petrol reached 15.90 per cent and cumulative ethanol blending during November 2023-June 2024 touched 13.0 per cent. Government aims to achieve 20 per cent ethanol blending by 2025. To achieve the same, about 1016 crore litres of ethanol are required, and the total requirement of ethanol including for other uses is 1350 crore litres. For this, about 1700 crore liters of ethanol-producing capacity are required to be in place by 2025, considering the plant operates at 80% efficiency.
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