Delhi, India
Amid India’s ongoing push towards cleaner energy and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, a fresh demand has emerged from industry leaders to increase the ethanol blending mandate beyond the current 20 percent target. Speaking in Delhi, CK Jain, President of the Grains Ethanol Manufacturers Association, strongly advocated for expanding the ethanol blending program, calling the existing E20 target only a preliminary milestone rather than a final objective.
CK Jain stated that over the past year, the 20 percent ethanol blending target was treated as a checkpoint by the government to evaluate the readiness of the sector. According to him, the aim was to assess whether investors would step forward and whether sufficient feedstock would be available to sustain higher blending levels.
He emphasized that the results have been encouraging, with both investor participation and feedstock availability exceeding expectations. Jain highlighted that India is currently witnessing a significant surplus of raw materials such as grains and sugarcane, which are key inputs for ethanol production.
He further pointed out that ethanol production capacity in the country has already reached approximately 2,000 crore litres, while the actual offtake or utilisation stands at around 1,300 crore litres. This gap, he explained, clearly indicates that the infrastructure and production ecosystem are capable of supporting a higher blending mandate.
He asserted that there is a “100 percent possibility” of increasing the blending percentage, stressing that E20 should not be seen as the endpoint but rather as a stepping stone for future expansion. According to Jain, the current scenario presents a strong opportunity for policymakers to push the boundaries further and accelerate India’s transition towards sustainable fuel alternatives.
The ethanol blending programme has been a key component of India’s energy strategy, aimed at reducing crude oil imports, lowering carbon emissions, and providing better returns to farmers through increased demand for agricultural produce. Industry stakeholders believe that raising the blending target could further strengthen these benefits.
Jain reiterated that the association has consistently been advocating for a higher blending mandate, arguing that the sector is fully prepared to meet increased demand. He also suggested that expanding the programme would not only optimise existing production capacity but also encourage further investments and innovation in the biofuel sector.
The call to move beyond the E20 target signals growing confidence within the industry and reflects a broader push towards a more self reliant and environmentally sustainable energy framework. As discussions around energy security and climate responsibility continue to evolve, the demand for higher ethanol blending is expected to remain a key point of debate among policymakers and industry leaders alike.
