E-100 pilot project has been launched at Pune
Entrepreneurs and project proponents are free to set up ethanol plants in any part of the country without seeking any formal approval from the Government, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on 19 July 2021.
However, various statutory clearances from States, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) among others are required during the course of setting up of the ethanol plant.
Besides, the Departent of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) is implementing scheme for extending interest subvention @ 6% p.a. or 50% of the interest charged by the banks whichever is lower, for 5 years including 1 year moratorium period.
Though the Central Government does not set up ethanol plants on its own in any part of the country, it is encouraging setting up of such facilities.
Meanwhile, E-100 pilot project has been launched at Pune city by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) on 5 June 2021.
With a view to enhance fuel choice and facilitate sale of E-100 fuel, the ministry, vide its order dated 22 March 2021, has amended the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, by permitting the direct sale of Bio-ethanol (E100) by an oil company for use as standalone fuel or blending with motor spirit, for compatible automobiles to all consumers, in accordance with the standards specified by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
The Notified National Policy on Biofuels – 2018, provided an indicative target of blending 20% ethanol in petrol by 2030.
The Government has undertaken several supply and demand side interventions since 2014 which has enabled improvement in ethanol blending from average 1.53% during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2013-14 to 7.93% during ongoing ESY 2020-21 as on 12 July 2021.
An Inter-departmental Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary NITI Aayog has submitted a “Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25” which outlines the journey for 20% ethanol blending in the country.
The ministry has published a Notification dated 2 June 2021, wherein, it has been stated that OMCs shall sell ethanol blended petrol with percentage of ethanol up to 20% as per BIS Specifications in the whole of India and Union Territories and shall come into effect from 1 April 2023, said Teli. #OPEC #fuel #investment #plant #projects #tenders /fiinews.com
