'Govt on course to achieving 12% ethanol blending target this year'

The Centre is confident of reaching its target of 12% ethanol blending with petrol target by the end of the current ethanol supply year ending October, Union food and public distribution secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Thursday.

- Puja Das

This comes after the government procuring agency Food Corp of India (FCI) temporarily halted the supply of rice for ethanol production in July. While grains account for 20% of ethanol blending with petrol, sugar has a contribution of 80%.

Highlighting the achievements of the sector, Chopra said, “India’s sugar industry has been on a roller-coaster ride for decades, but recent years have energized the sector. Previously, the industry relied on subsidies. However, efforts such as the ethanol blending program have emerged as a game-changer. Starting with a 1.5% ethanol blending capacity in 2013-14 to a blending percentage of about 12% which we are likely to achieve this ethanol supply year."

“In spite of the bounces in between we are confident to meet the 12% ethanol blending capacity by the end of the current ethanol supply year," the food secretary said.