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Informist, Saturday, Mar. 28, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said the ethanol blending programme has helped India reduce its dependence on crude oil imports, particularly during the ongoing global oil crisis. Modi was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Phase I of the Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh. 

 

"If the production of ethanol had not increased and its blending in petrol had not increased, then the country would have had to import 4.5 crore (450 million) barrels, i.e, about 700 crore (7 billion) litres of crude oil from abroad every year. The hard work of farmers has given great relief to the country in this time of crisis," he said at the inauguration ceremony of Phase I of the Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh. 

 

Under the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, the government has been implementing ethanol blending in petrol to reduce crude oil imports, save foreign exchange, promote green mobility, and boost the rural economy. Currently, public oil marketing companies dispense E20 as base fuel, which has 20% ethanol mix in petrol. 

 

"Friends, the country has definitely benefited from ethanol. Farmers have also benefited greatly," Modi said. Ethanol is produced in India from starch-containing feedstocks such as sugarcane, maize, and rice. Modi added that the new airport at Jewar will provide better connectivity and more markets for the farmers and food processing sector in the region.  

 

Crude oil prices have surged following the disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz after the US-Israel attack on Iran on Feb. 28. "In West Asia, a war has been going on for the past month. In many countries, the prices of food items, petrol, fertilisers, and other essentials have increased significantly. Every country is trying to deal with this crisis," the prime minister said said.  End

 

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

 

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