Maize is priority feedstock for government for ethanol blending: Food Secretary
India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has made rapid progress, reaching a 19.9% blending rate in June 2025. Grain-based ethanol has played a key role, with maize prioritized as a feedstock. Officials credit collaboration between government and industry for helping India approach its 20% target ahead of schedule.
India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme is gaining significant momentum, signaling a key shift toward more sustainable energy solutions. The country is witnessing a steady rise in ethanol production, with the government and industry’s efforts playing a key role in expanding ethanol production capabilities nationwide. Among the key contributors to this rise is the grain-based ethanol industry, which has played a important role in supporting this growth.
At the grain-based ethanol event organized by the Grain Ethanol Manufacturers Association (GEMA), Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra applauded and appreciated the achievement of blending 20% ethanol ahead of the target and shares the credit with all the stakeholders.
Chopra also emphasized that the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) is working diligently to ensure a steady supply of feedstocks for ethanol production. He highlighted that India has crossed the 1,800 crore-liter ethanol production capacity mark.
The Food Secretary further stressed that maize is a priority feedstock for the government for the ethanol blending. He lauded the efforts of GEMA in increasing ethanol production from food grains and noted that maize acreage is growing, thanks to favorable payment schemes for farmers.
GEMA President, Dr. C. K. Jain, expressed his gratitude toward the DFPD, stating that the bioethanol programme has been a success. He remained hopeful that the DFPD’s support would continue, allowing the sector to build on this momentum.
With the ongoing expansion of the EBP Programme, India is positioning itself as a global leader in the transition to cleaner fuels. The programme aligns with the country’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, further cementing its commitment to environmental sustainability and the global fight against climate change.
Ethanol blending achievements
In the current Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024-25, the blending of ethanol in petrol reached 19.9% in June 2025. The cumulative average blending rate from November 2024 to June 2025 stood at 18.9%.
During June 2025 alone, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) received 87.5 crore liters of ethanol under the EBP Programme, bringing the cumulative ethanol offtake by OMCs to 637.4 crore liters for the November–June period.
Official data indicates that a total of 88.9 crore liters of ethanol was blended into petrol in June 2025, increasing the cumulative ethanol blending volume to 661.1 crore liters from November 2024 to June 2025.
The government’s target is to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by ESY 2025-26. Since the inception of the EBP Programme, ethanol blending has risen from 38 crore liters in ESY 2013-14 to over 707.4 crore liters in ESY 2023-24, helping India reach an average blending rate of 14.6% during ESY 2023-24.
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Source : Chinimandi
