Biofuels policy: Cabinet advances ethanol blending target to 2025-26

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has given its nod to advancing the target of achieving ethanol blending of 20 percent in petrol by five years to 2025-26, as well as allowing more feedstocks for the production of biofuels in a bid to cut reliance on imported oil for meeting the country's energy needs, an official statement said on Wednesday. The Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels, the statement said.

Ethanol blending currently at 10%

The main amendment is for advancing the target of blending 20 percent ethanol in petrol (20 percent ethanol, 80 percent petrol) to 2025-26 from 2030. Currently, about 10 percent of ethanol is blended in petrol.

Also, the government has allowed the addition of more feedstocks for the production of biofuels which can be can be mixed with auto fuels.

It also provides for promoting the production of biofuels in the country, under the Make in India programme, by units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs).

"These decisions will help India, which depends on imports for meeting 85 percent of its oil needs, to cut reliance on overseas shipments," said the statement.

Cabinet okays export of biofuels on basis of permission

The Cabinet has also approved granting "permission for export of biofuels in specific cases," the statement said.

The amendments will also attract and foster developments of indigenous technologies which will pave the way for the Make in India drive and thereby generate more employment.

The existing National Policy on Biofuels came up in 2018.

"This amendment proposal will pave the way for the Make in India drive thereby leading to a reduction in import of petroleum products by the generation of more and more biofuels. Since many more feedstocks are being allowed for the production of biofuels, this will promote the Atmanirbhar Bharat and give an impetus to Prime Minister's vision of India becoming 'energy independent' by 2047," the statement added.

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