After achieving the ethanol blending level of 8.1 per cent during the ethanol supply year (ESY) 2020-21 (December-November), the government is aiming to achieve the 10 per cent target during ESY 2021-22.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Friday, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said the supply of ethanol to OMCs (oil marketing companies) was only 38 crore litres with blending levels of only 1.53 per cent in ESY 2013-14. Production of fuel grade ethanol and its supply to OMCs has increased by eight times from 2013-14 to 2020-21. She said 302.30 crore litres of ethanol have been supplied to OMCs during ESY 2020-21, thereby achieving 8.1 per cent blending levels, which is historically highest.
In the current ESY 2021-22, about 113 crore litres of ethanol have been blended with petrol till March 13, thereby achieving 9.45 per cent blending. She said the blending target of 10 per cent is likely to be achieved during ESY 2021-22. The government has fixed 20 per cent blending target for 2025, which is also likely to be achieved, the Minister said.
Telangana at the top
With a blending percentage of 10.57 per cent, Telangana led the list in the Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) programme during the current ESY till March 13. This was followed by Karnataka at 10.37 per cent. The blending percentage was at 6.32 per cent in West Bengal during the period. Of the 113. 2 crore litres of ethanol supplied for blending till March 13, the share of Uttar Pradesh was at 15.3 crore litres. This was followed by Maharashtra at 13.5 crore litres.
Highlighting the various measures taken in the past three years to increase the production of ethanol to meet the blending target, the minister said the government has been fixing remunerative prices of ethanol produced from different feedstocks for supply to OMCs for every ESY. Rice and maize from FCI were also allowed as feedstock. Apart from amending the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951, to ensure free movement of ethanol in the country, the government also reduced GST on ethanol meant for EBP programme from 18 per cent to 5 per cent.