Oil companies achieve 1.37 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol: Govt

New Delhi: Oil marketing companies could achieve only 1.37 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol against the target of five per cent; government informed the Lok Sabha saying it has taken cognisance of the hurdles in achieving the goals.

Responding to a series of supplementaries on blending of ethanol with petrol and diesel, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said so far there has been a lot of talk but little action has been taken on renewable fuel. But now, the new government will take steps in the sector as it will also help the farmers. He said certain issues related to marketing network and the company buying ethanol was behind failure to meet the target. The government has taken cognisance and would do the needful, he said.

The minister also agreed that ethanol is less fuel efficient as compared to petrol. In November, 2012, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had decided that five per cent mandatory ethanol blending with petrol should be implemented across the country and achieved by June, 2013. The minister said state governments have been asked to simplify the procedure and expedite clearances to ease the availability of ethanol for blending. To a question on plans to ban export of ethanol, he said DG Foreign Trade has not received proposal from any ministry to ban its export. Interestingly, most of the supplementaries were asked by ruling BJP members. It was the first question faced by Modi government in the 16th Lok Sabha.