Kolkata: The Centre is confident to achieve the target of 20% ethanol blending with petrol and diesel by 2025.
Currently, the country has reached the stage of 9% blending. This was disclosed by union minister for petroleum and natural gas and housing and urban development Hardeep Singh Puri. He was in an interactive session with the Young Leaders Forum of ICC here on Wednesday.
Currently, the country has reached the stage of 9% blending. This was disclosed by union minister for petroleum and natural gas and housing and urban development Hardeep Singh Puri. He was in an interactive session with the Young Leaders Forum of ICC here on Wednesday.
Puri said that stepping up ethanol blending would be critical for energy security of the country.
According to him, India imports almost 85% of liquid hydrocarbons and spends over Rs 12 lakh crore. “We are also importing gas. So our priority is to increase exploration and production (E&P) activities along with ethanol blending,” he added. Puri is also going to Assam to review the new E&P status.
According to him, India imports almost 85% of liquid hydrocarbons and spends over Rs 12 lakh crore. “We are also importing gas. So our priority is to increase exploration and production (E&P) activities along with ethanol blending,” he added. Puri is also going to Assam to review the new E&P status.
Elaborating on ethanol blending, the Union minister pointed out that it had issued a tender for ethanol recently and got a huge response.
When asked about whether the ethanol blending might affect food security of the nation, the minister assured that it is looking at alternative materials for procuring bio fuel apart from sugar cane. “We are looking at agricultural waste and even bamboo in the north-east for ethanol. So this should not be a problem,” he added.
Commenting on the energy grid, he added that out of targeted 35,000 km of gas pipeline, about 22,000 km has already been completed. “Going for gas and green hydrogen is not only an option, rather there is an imperative,” he added.
The above news was originally posted on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
