By December 2024, 18.2% ethanol blending took place in the country whereas the government’s target is 20% blending. By October 2024, 16.1% blending had taken place in the country. Meanwhile, OMCs have purchased 846 million liters of ethanol till December. OMCs have used 766 million liters of ethanol in blending. Let us tell you that the supply year runs from November to December.
OMCs have paid Rs 1.46 lakh crore to distillery plants between 2014-24. Whereas Rs 87558 crore has been paid to the farmers.
ISMA DG Deepak Balani Says that the target of ethanol blending will be achieved. ISMA held several rounds of meetings with the government. A further target of 20 per cent blending should now be set. The sugar crop is expected to be quite good. The target is 25 percent blending by 2030.
Deepak Balani said that it is advisable to make 20 percent blending as the base. He further said that there is a need to promote flexi fuel in the country. Ethanol prices have not increased in the last 2 years. Ethanol prices are expected to be released very soon. The cost of production for industries is increasing. Due to increasing costs, payments to farmers are being delayed. Farmers are getting maximum amount of ethanol.
Talking about the expectations from the budget, he said that GST should also be reduced from 18 percent to 5 percent. Sugar Bio Refinery should be recognized as Energy Hub. There is advice to launch flexi fuel, hybrid EV. Need to launch E100 fuel. For this, Rs 2000 crore fund has been demanded from the government. There is a need to promote blending in ATF also. He further said that SAF has been launched by countries like Brazil, America.
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