WISMA backs Centre’s ethanol blending programme, says it strengthens energy security and farmers’ income
WISMA reaffirmed support for India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, saying it saved ₹1.13 lakh crore in foreign exchange, reduced crude imports by 19.3 million tonnes, strengthened farmers’ incomes, improved sugar industry stability, promoted cleaner fuels, and dismissed misinformation about E20 fuel safety.
New Delhi: The West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA) has reaffirmed its support for the Centre’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, saying the initiative has reduced India’s dependence on imported crude oil, strengthened energy security and improved farmers’ incomes while contributing to environmental sustainability.
In a press statement, WISMA president B B Thombre said, “Ethanol blending by public sector oil marketing companies between 2014 and 2024 helped the country save about Rs 1.13 lakh crore in foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports. During the period, crude oil imports declined by 19.3 million metric tonnes, while sugar mills paid nearly Rs 92,400 crore to farmers, strengthening the rural economy”.
The association said the programme has created a sustainable market for agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcane, maize and rice, providing farmers with an additional source of income and supporting the financial stability of the sugar industry.
WISMA also highlighted the support extended to the programme by Padma Vibhushan awardee and former Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director General Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar.
Quoting Dr. Mashelkar’s recent remarks to IANS, the association said ethanol is a proven transport fuel and cited Brazil’s decades-long experience with ethanol-powered vehicles as evidence of its commercial viability.
According to WISMA, Dr. Mashelkar said increasing the use of ethanol and other domestically produced fuels would help India reduce dependence on imported crude oil and move closer to energy self-reliance. He also called for accelerating the development of alternative fuels such as methanol, dimethyl ether (DME), compressed biogas (CBG) and biomass-based green hydrogen.
The association said recent geopolitical developments in West Asia have underlined the importance of expanding domestic biofuel production to reduce India’s exposure to disruptions in global energy supplies.
Referring to concerns raised on social media over ethanol-blended petrol, WISMA cited the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which has clarified that the EBP Programme is scientifically validated and is being implemented after extensive technical evaluation and consultation with automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies and other stakeholders.
The ministry has also stated that no major cases of engine failure or vehicle breakdown linked to E20 petrol have been reported since its introduction, the association said.
WISMA rejected claims that sugarcane juice is directly mixed with petrol, stating that fuel-grade ethanol is produced through established industrial processes, including fermentation and distillation, and complies with strict quality standards before blending with petrol.
The association also referred to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.’s clarification that fuel-grade ethanol contains no residual sugar after processing and includes denaturants that prevent insect attraction, dismissing claims made in a viral social media video.
WISMA said the ethanol blending programme has helped reduce surplus sugar production by diverting sugarcane-based feedstocks for ethanol manufacture, thereby improving the financial stability of sugar mills and ensuring better returns for farmers.
The association also welcomed the support expressed by farmer organisations during their recent meeting with Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, where representatives from several states described ethanol production as an opportunity to increase farmers’ income while strengthening India’s energy security.
WISMA said the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Indian automobile industry have also maintained that ethanol-blended petrol has not caused engine-related problems and continues to be a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.
Reiterating its support for the national ethanol blending programme, WISMA said the initiative has emerged as an important policy for reducing crude oil imports, conserving foreign exchange, promoting cleaner fuels and providing long-term economic stability to sugarcane farmers and the sugar industry.
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Source : ChiniMandi
