JNS: Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, introduced ‘ETHANOL 100,’ a groundbreaking automotive fuel, at the Indian Oil Retail Outlet M/s. Irwin Road Service Station on Friday. This new fuel is now available at 183 select retail outlets across five states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, and Tamil Nadu.
During the launch event, Minister Puri expressed that the introduction of ETHANOL 100 was inspired by the Prime Minister of India’s vision to transform food providers into energy providers. Describing it as a revolutionary fuel, he highlighted its potential to revolutionize the transportation sector and reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Puri emphasized that the government’s focus on reducing import dependency, conserving foreign exchange, and boosting the agriculture sector has led to significant progress.
Since the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding E20 (20% ethanol blended fuel) in 2023, the availability of E20 has increased to 12,000 outlets in less than a year. With the launch of ETHANOL 100 at 183 Indian Oil outlets, the target of achieving 20% ethanol blending by 2025-26 is within reach. Over the past decade, these ethanol blending initiatives have increased farmer incomes, rural employment, reduced CO2 emissions equivalent to planting 1.75 crore trees, and saved Rs 85,000 crore in foreign exchange.
Speaking about the country’s progress towards achieving the vision of 20% blending of Ethanol in Petrol by 2025-26, Puri credited Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for introducing various blends of Ethanol with Petrol across the country.
He highlighted that OMCs have signed long-term offtake agreements with 131 dedicated ethanol plants, which are expected to add an annual production design capacity of 745 crore liters. OMCs have also invested in increasing storage capacity and allied infrastructure for handling higher blending percentages.
Jain, Secretary MoPNG, emphasized that this initiative represents a significant shift toward embracing sustainable technologies and instilling confidence in manufacturers to invest in ethanol-based vehicles. He praised IndianOil for spearheading the initiative, stating that their support signifies the permanence of ethanol and flex fuels in the country’s energy landscape.
Shri Vaidya, Chairman, Indian Oil, highlighted that India is among the few countries in the world to introduce ETHANOL 100 fuel, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards sustainability and clean mobility.
ETHANOL 100 is a cleaner, greener alternative to gasoline, with lower emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants, aiding in combating climate change and improving air quality. Its high-octane rating, typically between 100-105, makes it ideal for high-performance engines, ensuring improved efficiency and power output while minimising environmental impact.
Additionally, its versatility allows it to be used in a wide array of vehicles, including flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), showcasing its practicality and potential to become a mainstream fuel option with the right infrastructure in place.
