Andhra Pradesh (AP) Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) scheme faces opposition

EBP Program started with pilot projects in 2001. In 2003, a 5% ethanol (C2H5OH) blending program was introduced by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas which, by 2019 was extended to the whole country (except Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep) and allowed up to 10% blending.

The EBP Program aims to blend 20 percent ethanol into gasoline by 2025–2026. This was advanced from 2030 under the National Policy on Biofuels (2018) (as modified in 2022); the blend percentage was 15 percent as of 2024.

The EBP will aim to increase farmer incomes and reduce carbon emissions and fuel imports.

Encourage India to diversify its energy supplies so that it is more resilient to disruptions in the world's oil supply.

Support India in meeting its Net Zero 2070 commitment under the Paris Agreement

The EBP Program supports the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and Make in India through the “Waste to Wealth” approach.

• The ethanol production capacity stood at about 1, 600 crore liters as of September 2024.
• The EBP reduced crude oil imports and saved Rs. 1, 06, 072 crore in foreign exchange.
• EBP has also reduced CO2 emissions by 544 mt in addition to replacing 181 mt crude oil.
• The total amount disbursed to farmers by the IOCs during this period was Rs. 87, 558 crore and to distillers was Rs. 1, 45, 930 crore.

Promoting 3G Ethanol Scaling up of 3G ethanol production (produced by algae from wastewater, sewage or seawater) under Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana would have lesser environmental impact as microalgae instead of food crops would be used and it would be a sustainable alternative to 1G and 2G methods without putting food or freshwater resources under stress.

Environmental Regulations: Implement mandatory pollution control measures (e. g., effluent treatment plants) and re-introduce public hearings for environmental clearances. Instead of groundwater, ethanol factories should be mandated to use treated or recycled wastewater.

Rewarding green technologies: Make ethanol pollution controls more affordable to ethanol producers by subsidizing devices like the Wind Augmentation and Air Purifying Unit (WAYU). Environmental damage can be minimized through R&D on low-emission ethanol production.