Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India achieves 10% ethanol blending target, 5-month ahead of deadline

India has achieved the target of 10 per cent ethanol blending, which is five months ahead of schedule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday on account of World Environment Day.

The prime minister elaborating on the enormity of the achievement said that in 2014 ethanol blending was at 1.5 percent. On World Environment Day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended a programme on ‘Save Soil Movement’.

While addressing 'Save Soil' programme organised by Isha Foundation, Modi said that there are three clear benefits of achieving this goal, he explained. 

“First, it has led to a reduction of 27 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions. Second, it has saved foreign exchange worth 41 thousand crore and third, farmers of the country have earned 40 thousand 600 crores in the last 8 years due to an increase in ethanol blending.”

आज भारत ने पेट्रोल में 10 प्रतिशत इथेनॉल ब्लेंडिंग के लक्ष्य को प्राप्त कर लिया है।

आपको ये जानकर भी गर्व की अनुभूति होगी, कि भारत इस लक्ष्य पर तय समय से 5 महीने पहले पहुंच गया है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 5, 2022

The prime minister complimented the people, farmers, and oil companies of the country on this achievement.

The Union Cabinet earlier in May had approved advancing the target of blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol by 5 years to 2025-26 as well as allowing more feedstocks for the production of biofuels in a bid to cut reliance on imported oil for meeting the country's energy needs.

PM Modi further informed that India has achieved the target of sourcing 40 per cent of our installed power generation capacity from non-fossil fuel 9 years ahead of schedule.

“Solar energy capacity has increased by 18 times and policies like Hydrogen Mission and Circular economy related policies, scrappage policy is examples of our commitment to environmental protection”, he said.

He also said, “India's role in climate change is negligible but India is working on a long term vision in collaboration with the International community on protecting the Environment and the country has a five-pronged programme of soil conservation.”