Latest news with #PioneerBiofuels360Summit
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
E20 rollout achieved ahead of schedule; govt eyes higher ethanol blends, SAF adoption: Puri
India has achieved 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol five years ahead of the revised 2025 target, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday, adding that the government will now move towards higher ethanol blends and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption in a phased manner. Speaking at the Pioneer Biofuels 360 Summit, Puri said ethanol blending was at just 1.53 per cent in 2014 and reached 10 per cent by 2022, five months ahead of the original schedule. 'The target of E20 by 2025 has already been met in the current ethanol supply year,' he said, crediting policy reforms such as guaranteed ethanol pricing, allowing multiple feedstocks and rapid capacity expansion. He said the transition to E20 had taken place without any reported cases of engine breakdowns in the past 10 months. 'Some lobbies with vested interests are attempting to create confusion, but the shift is backed by policy, industry readiness and consumer acceptance,' he said, citing Brazil's example of running on E27 fuel. Puri said E20 has saved over ₹1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality. Over the past 11 years, ethanol procurement has provided ₹1.21 lakh crore in income to farmers and reduced crude imports by 238.68 lakh metric tonnes. Maize-based ethanol now accounts for 42 per cent of the supply, up from zero in 2021–22. On flex-fuel vehicles, he said Indian automakers have developed prototypes for E85-compatible models and higher blends like E25, E27 and E30 will be introduced gradually, supported by BIS norms and fiscal incentives. Outlining plans for SAF, Puri said India has set a 1 per cent blending target for international flights by 2027 and 2 per cent by 2028. Indian Oil Corporation 's Panipat refinery is already producing SAF from used cooking oil, he said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
E20 rollout achieved ahead of schedule; govt eyes higher ethanol blends, SAF adoption: Puri
New Delhi: India has achieved 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol five years ahead of the revised 2025 target, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday, adding that the government will now move towards higher ethanol blends and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption in a phased manner. Speaking at the Pioneer Biofuels 360 Summit, Puri said ethanol blending was at just 1.53 per cent in 2014 and reached 10 per cent by 2022, five months ahead of the original schedule. 'The target of E20 by 2025 has already been met in the current ethanol supply year,' he said, crediting policy reforms such as guaranteed ethanol pricing, allowing multiple feedstocks and rapid capacity expansion. He said the transition to E20 had taken place without any reported cases of engine breakdowns in the past 10 months. 'Some lobbies with vested interests are attempting to create confusion, but the shift is backed by policy, industry readiness and consumer acceptance,' he said, citing Brazil's example of running on E27 fuel. Puri said E20 has saved over ₹1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality. Over the past 11 years, ethanol procurement has provided ₹1.21 lakh crore in income to farmers and reduced crude imports by 238.68 lakh metric tonnes. Maize-based ethanol now accounts for 42 per cent of the supply, up from zero in 2021–22. On flex-fuel vehicles, he said Indian automakers have developed prototypes for E85-compatible models and higher blends like E25, E27 and E30 will be introduced gradually, supported by BIS norms and fiscal incentives. Outlining plans for SAF, Puri said India has set a 1 per cent blending target for international flights by 2027 and 2 per cent by 2028. Indian Oil Corporation's Panipat refinery is already producing SAF from used cooking oil, he said.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
No engine failures reported since ethanol blending policy rollout: Petroleum minister
Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said not a single case of engine failure or breakdown has been reported since E20 became the base fuel in India over the past 10 months. Citing Brazil's long-standing experience with higher ethanol blends, Puri noted that the country has been running on E27 for years without any operational issues. Speaking at a Fireside Chat Session on the sidelines of the Pioneer Biofuels 360 Summit, the minister also alleged that some vested interest groups are actively trying to spread misinformation and derail India's ethanol revolution. 'The E20 transition is already firmly underway, backed by strong policy support, industry readiness, and public acceptance—and there is no turning back,' said the minister. His comments came in response to growing social media backlash over complaints about decreased fuel efficiency and mileage following the rollout of E20 in the country. Many users criticized the government, arguing that no other country mandates the use of E20 and that fuel prices have not been reduced despite the 20% ethanol blending. Defending the ethanol policy, Puri highlighted multiple benefits of E20. 'It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves air quality, enhances engine performance, and has already resulted in foreign exchange savings of over ₹1.4 lakh crore,' he said.
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
India taking decisive steps to increase domestic energy production: Hardeep Puri
New Delhi: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday highlighted India's strides in clean energy and domestic fuel production, while acknowledging that the country still relies heavily on imports to meet its growing energy needs. "We already have 113 compressed biogas (CBG) plants operating and another 73 under construction," he said on the progress of bioenergy and natural gas space. "If you look at the car models coming onto the market, many new ones are CNG-compatible. So that's a success story," the minister told reporters on the sidelines of Pioneer Biofuels 360 Summit here in the national capital. The Minister pointed to India's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution as another example of progress in energy access. "Today, we are running against all statistics," he said. "We have 33.5 crore LPG connections in the country, including 10.5 crore under the Ujjwala Yojana, yet we still import about 60 per cent of our LPG." While acknowledging the import dependency, Puri reaffirmed that the country is taking decisive steps to increase domestic production. "Our refineries are going to produce more. We are going to do more in exploration and production (E&P)," he said. Regarding natural gas, Minister Puri noted that domestic production is witnessing healthy growth. "Yes, our production is going up by 18 per cent per year, but even there we are still importing around 50 per cent," he said. Minister Puri stressed on the country's commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India. "A country like India, which has these challenges, is moving in the direction of self-sufficiency, but it's going to take time," he stated. "Meanwhile, we will import, we will increase our production, and we've already diversified our import sources." India is the world's third-largest energy consumer with a demand of about 5.4 million barrels of oil per day. India today imports 80 per cent of its oil and 50 per cent of its natural gas needs. India is now importing oil and gas from as many countries as possible, about 40 countries now, to meet its demand.
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
India marches towards energy self-reliance, but imports still crucial: Hardeep Puri
Synopsis Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday outlined India's progress in clean energy and domestic fuel production while noting the country's continued reliance on imports. Speaking at the Pioneer Biofuels 360 Summit, he highlighted the expansion of compressed biogas (CBG) and CNG-compatible vehicles, along with 33.5 crore LPG connections, including 10.5 crore under the Ujjwala Yojana. PTI Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday highlighted India's strides in clean energy and domestic fuel production, while acknowledging that the country still relies heavily on imports to meet its growing energy needs."We already have 113 compressed biogas (CBG) plants operating and another 73 under construction," he said on the progress of bioenergy and natural gas space."If you look at the car models coming onto the market, many new ones are CNG-compatible. So that's a success story," the minister told reporters on the sidelines of Pioneer Biofuels 360 Summit here in the national Minister pointed to India's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution as another example of progress in energy access."Today, we are running against all statistics," he said. "We have 33.5 crore LPG connections in the country, including 10.5 crore under the Ujjwala Yojana, yet we still import about 60 per cent of our LPG." While acknowledging the import dependency, Puri reaffirmed that the country is taking decisive steps to increase domestic production."Our refineries are going to produce more. We are going to do more in exploration and production (E&P)," he natural gas, Minister Puri noted that domestic production is witnessing healthy growth."Yes, our production is going up by 18 per cent per year, but even there we are still importing around 50 per cent," he Puri stressed on the country's commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India."A country like India, which has these challenges, is moving in the direction of self-sufficiency, but it's going to take time," he stated. "Meanwhile, we will import, we will increase our production, and we've already diversified our import sources."India is the world's third-largest energy consumer with a demand of about 5.4 million barrels of oil per today imports 80 per cent of its oil and 50 per cent of its natural gas needs. India is now importing oil and gas from as many countries as possible, about 40 countries now, to meet its demand.
