Government moves to ready ground for 5% ethanol mix in diesel
The Indian government is exploring a new plan to blend 5% ethanol with diesel (ED-5) as it nears its goal of 20% ethanol blending in petrol within two years. A recent PMO meeting discussed this proposal, building on promising trial results from older buses. While initial tests show benefits, further trials on heavy-duty vehicles are anticipated. Ethanol blending in diesel aims to enhance environmental sustainability and reduce crude oil imports.
Government explored a new plan to blend 5% ethanol with diesel (ED-5) as it neared its target of 20% ethanol-blended petrol within two years. A meeting at the PMO was held to discuss this, with trials on older buses showing promising results. Further trials on heavy-duty vehicles are anticipated.
NEW DELHI: Govt is looking at a new plan of 5% blending of ethanol in diesel (ED-5) as it moves closer to achieving the target of 20% blending in petrol in the next two years.The PMO last week held a meeting on the new proposal with all ministries concerned, sources said.In June, ethanol blending with petrol touched 15.9%. Sources said govt wants to get the ground ready for ethanol blending in diesel.”Though ethanol blending in diesel will mean that we have to produce more of this green fuel, it will be good for the environment and cut our crude oil imports and save foreign exchange,” said an official.TOI has learned that Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) had done a trial run in 2018-19. The trial was done on BS-III and BS-VI buses to assess vehicular performance, emission and durability. The test was conducted for 500 hours and no major failure was recorded. Sources said the pilot project found fuel consumption was slightly lower than normal diesel.However, the trial of ethanol-blended diesel has so far not been done on BS-VI vehicles. One of the oil PSUs is likely to undertake a trial of the fuel on a heavy-duty vehicle for assessment.Recently, while replying to a question in RS, petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri said blending of ethanol with diesel was at an experimental stage and initial tests showed the formation of deposits in fuel tanks and other implications.
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