look news india
India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program is proving to be a milestone towards energy self-reliance. According to the latest government report, the country has saved valuable foreign exchange worth Rs 1.90 lakh crore by mixing ethanol in petrol from 2014-15 to May 2026. During this period, the import of 310 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil has been replaced with indigenous ethanol, which is a big relief for the country’s economy.
Farmers’ income and environment are benefited by the direct benefit of this initiative. More than Rs 1.6 lakh crore has reached the pockets of farmers through ethanol production from sugarcane, maize and rice. Also, it has reduced 930 lakh metric tonnes of carbon emissions, giving a new impetus to India’s ‘clean energy’ mission. Currently, India is dependent on imports for 88.5% of its oil needs, to reduce which ethanol blending has emerged as the biggest solution.
According to government data, from the year 2014-15 to May 2026, this campaign of mixing ethanol in petrol has saved the country more than Rs 1.90 lakh crore in foreign exchange. During this period, India used indigenous ethanol instead of 310 lakh metric tons of foreign crude oil.
The report also states that India imports about 88.5 percent of its crude oil requirement from abroad. In such a situation, to avoid the fluctuations and crises in oil prices in the international market, ethanol blending has become one of the biggest priorities of the government.
Understand how the environment benefited?
Apart from this, the farmers of India have directly benefited from this program. Farmers have earned additional income of more than Rs 1.6 lakh crore due to ethanol produced from sugarcane, maize and broken rice (paddy).
Besides this, it is also a big success from environmental point of view. Mixing ethanol in petrol has reduced more than 930 lakh metric tonnes of carbon emissions (pollution) in the country, which strengthens India’s resolve for clean energy.