Lok Sabha Question No. 770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-21
Subject: Ethanol Blended Fuel
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 770 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st July, 2022

## Ethanol Blended Fuel

## 770.  DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=h

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

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- (a)  whether the Government has data on the loss in fuel efficiency due to usage of E10  and  E20  ethanol-blended  fuel,  in  vehicles  plying  on  the  roads  as  of February, 2022;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether the non-ethanol blended fuel would continue to be supplied, alongside E10 and E20 fuel, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  the  resulting  loss  in  fuel  efficiency  hurt  the  average  consumer,  at  a time of skyrocketing fuel prices and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  compensate  vehicle  owners  for  the ensuing loss in fuel efficiency in non-E10 and non-E20 compliant vehicles and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f)  whether  E10  and  E20  blended  fuels  would  be  supplied  at  a  subsidized  price compared to non-ethanol gasoline and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=ky; esajkT; ea=h ¼Jh jkes'oj rsyh½

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (f):Government is implementing Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme with  multiple  objectives  of  reducing  import  dependence,  savings  in  foreign exchange, providing boost to domestic agriculture sector and associated environment  benefits. Currently, under EBP  Programme,  Public  Sector  Oil Marketing  Companies  (OMCs)  sell  E-10  (10%  ethanol  blended  petrol)  fuel meeting  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  (BIS)  specifications  as  per  availability  of ethanol. Therefore,  in some pockets of the country, in case ethanol is not available for some interim period due to any reason, non-blended ethanol fuel may have to be supplied with E-10  in the remaining  areas where  ethanol  is available. Dispensing  of  E-20  ethanol-blended  petrol  has  not  yet  been  introduced  in  the country.

A  joint  study  by  Indian  Institute  of  Petroleum  (IIP)  Dehradun,  Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) R&D on E20 as fuel with existing vehicles was undertaken under the aegis of  Department  of  Heavy  Industry  (DHI).  The  study  indicated  that  E-10  ethanolblended fuel is not only environment friendly but also has higher Research Octane Number  (RON)  due  to  addition  of  ethanol.  Ethanol  is  added  as  oxygenate  and hence increases oxygen  content for combustion, leading to enleanment of combusted  mixture.  The  findings  indicated  that  the  un-burnt  hydrocarbon  and carbon monoxide emissions decreased by about 20% with E-10 compared to E-0 (neat  petrol)  on  both  two  wheelers  and  passenger  cars.  It  also  indicated  that  no clear  trend  of  fuel  economy  change  on  account  of  blending  of  ethanol  was observed during the mileage build-up for E-10 blend.

Currently,  the  landed  price  of  ethanol  is  lower  than  petrol  and  therefore  ethanol blending  in  petrol  has  helped  in  reducing  the  overall  cost  as  compared  to unblended petrol.

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