NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India plans to achieve 20% ethanol-blending with gasoline by 2025, five years ahead of its previous target, to help reduce its dependence on costly oil imports, the government said on Thursday.
Last year the government had set a target of reaching 10% ethanol-blending by 2022 – meaning 10% of ethanol mixed with 90% of gasoline – and 20% by 2030.
India is the world’s third biggest oil importer, relying on foreign suppliers to meet more than 80% of its demand.
In the current ethanol supply year, which started in October, India plans to have 8.5% ethanol-blending with gasoline. This would be raised to 10% by mixing in 4 billion litres of ethanol by 2022, the statement said.
