NEW DELHI: Prime minister Narendra Modi will launch E20, or petrol blended with 20% ethanol, on Monday in Bengaluru, bringing forward by two years the launch of cleaner-burning version of the common man’s fuel with the dual purpose of reducing oil imports and vehicular emission.
“The PM will launch the fuel by pressing a nozzle at the ‘India Energy Week’conference to start E20 sale at some 67 pumps on pilot basis across several states. We started at 1.4% ethanol blending in 2014 and achieved 10% blending five months ahead of the November 2022 target. The original target of 20% blending was 2030. We revised it to 2025 and then to 2023. We’re introducing it in the market months in advance,” a top government functionary said.
He said the pace at which the ethanol blending programme’s implementation and several other initiatives underway simultaneously across the energy value chain underlines the Modi government’s commitment to clean energy transition and climate commitment as well as investment opportunities they provide.
“India is the market where all the action is taking place. We are the third-largest consumer of oil and will contribute 35% of demand till 2040. Our economy is growing at 6-7%. About 60 million people visit petrol pumps daily for refill. We consume 5 million barrels a day of oil. At about 3% growth in demand, it is a matter of time before that becomes 6-7 million barrel a day,” he said giving the perspective on the conference.
The PM will also launch an indigenous solar-electric cooktop which will provide a low-carbon, low-cost cooking option for households. Built by IndianOil’s R&D wing, the cooktop is comparable to modern induction cook tops and operates on solar and grid power.
“This will be India’s gift for the world,” he said, adding the Gates Foundation and other entities have evinced interest due to the cooktop’s application potential in the global south. “The top has been tested at several locations and defence establishments in both cold and hot weather.”
The oil ministry is exploring the cooktop’s inclusion in the renewable energy’s subsidy plan for solar pumps, known as KUSUM, or similar support as the initially cost of around Rs 10,000 or could be daunting for households and slow down its adoption. “The price will come down to affordable levels once scale is achieved. The government is working on it,” the person said.
The PM is also slated to launch a programme for recycling PET bottles — commonly called plastic bottles — into fabric by the three state-run oil refiner-cum-fuel retailers, scaling up an initiative launched last year by IndianOil. “Making polyester yarn from recycled PET bottles requires 59% less energy and has 79% lower carbon footprint compared to yarn made from hydrocarbons. So apart from the cost, there is also the environmental advantage,” he said.
The fabric thus produced will be used for making uniforms for petrol pump attendants and supplied to the armed forces.
“The PM will launch the fuel by pressing a nozzle at the ‘India Energy Week’conference to start E20 sale at some 67 pumps on pilot basis across several states. We started at 1.4% ethanol blending in 2014 and achieved 10% blending five months ahead of the November 2022 target. The original target of 20% blending was 2030. We revised it to 2025 and then to 2023. We’re introducing it in the market months in advance,” a top government functionary said.
He said the pace at which the ethanol blending programme’s implementation and several other initiatives underway simultaneously across the energy value chain underlines the Modi government’s commitment to clean energy transition and climate commitment as well as investment opportunities they provide.
“India is the market where all the action is taking place. We are the third-largest consumer of oil and will contribute 35% of demand till 2040. Our economy is growing at 6-7%. About 60 million people visit petrol pumps daily for refill. We consume 5 million barrels a day of oil. At about 3% growth in demand, it is a matter of time before that becomes 6-7 million barrel a day,” he said giving the perspective on the conference.
The PM will also launch an indigenous solar-electric cooktop which will provide a low-carbon, low-cost cooking option for households. Built by IndianOil’s R&D wing, the cooktop is comparable to modern induction cook tops and operates on solar and grid power.
“This will be India’s gift for the world,” he said, adding the Gates Foundation and other entities have evinced interest due to the cooktop’s application potential in the global south. “The top has been tested at several locations and defence establishments in both cold and hot weather.”
The oil ministry is exploring the cooktop’s inclusion in the renewable energy’s subsidy plan for solar pumps, known as KUSUM, or similar support as the initially cost of around Rs 10,000 or could be daunting for households and slow down its adoption. “The price will come down to affordable levels once scale is achieved. The government is working on it,” the person said.
The PM is also slated to launch a programme for recycling PET bottles — commonly called plastic bottles — into fabric by the three state-run oil refiner-cum-fuel retailers, scaling up an initiative launched last year by IndianOil. “Making polyester yarn from recycled PET bottles requires 59% less energy and has 79% lower carbon footprint compared to yarn made from hydrocarbons. So apart from the cost, there is also the environmental advantage,” he said.
The fabric thus produced will be used for making uniforms for petrol pump attendants and supplied to the armed forces.
