UDOP | India expands ethanol blend in gasoline to 20%

Feb 06,2023

India begins, on Monday (6), operations with the mixture of 20% ethanol to gasoline, putting in place another stage of the Ethanol program, two months before the established. The measure was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the opening of India Energy Week 2023 (India Energy Week), the main industry event held in the country.

"We congratulate and celebrate with India this step, which is only possible by the commitment of the Indian government, together with the private sector and public institutions, united in order to leverage the ethanol industry, diversifying the energy matrix while reducing emissions and improving air quality in large cities," said Unica's president, Evandro Gussi.

In the last four years, Brazil has intensified technical cooperation with India to contribute to the Ethanol program, both in the governmental and private sectors. Events, seminars and technical field visits were held as part of the partnership between the two countries. Within the private sector, Unica and Siam (Association of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) have formalized a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the agenda.

"Our experience of nearly 50 years in the production and consumption of ethanol as a large-scale fuel has contributed greatly to this agenda in India, particularly in public policy issues, new technologies and biofuel quality standards. This exchange of experience not only created the conditions for them to rapidly increase the level of ethanol mixing in gasoline to 20% in 2025, but also that they have already started the production of flex vehicles in the country", said The Ceo of Unica, Eduardo Leão de Sousa.

Early deadlines
The use of ethanol, extracted from sugarcane, will help the world's third-largest oil consumer reduce its dependence on shipments from abroad. Currently, India relies on 85% of imports to meet its oil needs. Biofuel will also help reduce GHG emissions, contributing to the commitment made in the Paris Agreement.

The goal is to double, by 2025, the current 10% ethanol blend in gasoline nationwide. In the first phase, 15 cities will be covered, with the expansion progressive ly throughout the country in the next two years. Initially, the E20 will be available at 84 petrol stations from three state fuel retailers in 11 states/territories of the Union. By 2014, the mix was 1.5%, up to 10% in 2022.

Oil and Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri recalled that India was able to mix 10% ethanol in gasoline five months ahead of schedule in June last year. "As a country on a rapid path of economic growth, India is expected to witness the largest increase in energy demand of any country in the next two decades, accounting for about 28% of incremental global growth in energy demand," he said.