Question : Use of Ethanol

(a) whether the Government proposes to promote use of ethanol as an alternative fuel in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the coast of production of ethanol;
(c) the quantity of ethanol produced in the country during the last three years and the current year and the projected demand and supply of ethanol by the end of the Twelfth Five Year Plan;
(d) whether the Government has received certain complaints against the operators of sugar industries and oil marketing companies relating to the pricing of ethanol blended petrol and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
(e) the measures taken by the Government to augment production and use of ethanol in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL & NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): Yes Madam. The Government of India has given priority for promotion and use of ethanol for blending with petrol. The Government emphasizes on the production of ethanol from ligno-cellulosic biomass and different agro-industrial wastes and residues.

(b): The cost of production of ethanol varies on account of feedstocks, processing technology and scale of production. However a remunerative delivered price range of Rs 48.50 to Rs 49.50 per litre depending upon the distance of transportation from distillery to depot has been offered under the policy.

(c): About 1468 Crore litres of ethanol was produced in the country during the last three and current years. The sugar-year wise production of ethanol is given in table below:
Sugar Year (Oct.-Sept.) Approx.. quantity of alcohol/ ethanol produced
2015-16 300 Crore litre (estimated)
2014-15 306 crore litres
2013-14 272 crore litres
2012-13 294 crore litres
2011-12 296 crore litres


The projected demand and supply of ethanol by the end of the Twelfth Five Year Plan is approximately 420 and 300 Crore litres, respectively.
(d): No Madam.

(e): Government has taken various steps for development of ethanol in the country i.e. (i) Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has been implemented since year 2003 in the country under this Programme Oil Marketing Companies sell ethanol blended petrol with percentage of ethanol up to 10 % as per BIS specification to achieve 5 % ethanol blending across the country as a whole; (ii) announcement of the National Policy on Biofuels in year 2009 for promotion and utilisation of biofuels including bioethanol. (iii) for improve the ethanol availability, Government decided the delivered price of ethanol in the range of Rs 48.50 to Rs 49.50 per litre. (iv) ethanol production from other non-food feedstocks besides molasses, like cellulosic and lingo-cellulosic materials including petrochemical route, has also been allowed to be procured for EBP Programme; and (v) Continuous support from Ministries of Agriculture, New and Renewable Energy; Science and Technology for various research and development on different aspects of production and enhancing the ethanol availability in the country.
*****