Panel to Review 25% Ethanol Blending Target

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the Centre has constituted a committee to examine the possibility of increasing the ethanol blending target in petrol to 25 per cent.
Speaking in Hubballi Joshi said the government would take a final decision only after receiving the panel’s recommendations.

He recalled that the ethanol blending programme was first conceived during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government in 2003-04. The policy was later implemented under the UPA government, when the blending rate was slightly above one per cent.
According to Joshi, the Narendra Modi government subsequently expanded the programme in phases, taking the blending level to the current 20 per cent.

Addressing criticism over a possible increase to 25 per cent, the minister said the ethanol programme had also helped sugar mills settle pending payments to sugarcane farmers. He added that the Centre had provided loans of around ₹14,000 crore to sugar mills after the Modi government came to power to support the clearance of farmers’ dues.
Joshi reiterated that the decision on the proposed 25 per cent blending target would be taken after the committee submits its recommendations.