Ethanol blending in diesel has hit a technical roadblock after government-backed tests found that the fuel failed the required flash-point specification. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi informed Parliament that the flash point of diesel fell sharply when ethanol was added, raising safety concerns over its wider use.
Public-sector oil marketing companies conducted scientific evaluations through their research and development centres in collaboration with accredited laboratories and automobile manufacturers. The findings mean ethanol-diesel blends cannot be considered for wider adoption unless the flash-point issue is resolved.
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India’s ethanol blending programme has so far focused primarily on petrol, with the government targeting 20% ethanol blending. Gopi said no decision has been taken to raise the target beyond 20%, adding that any future increase would be considered only after detailed scientific and technical studies and consultations with stakeholders.
The government is also examining ethanol as a potential cooking fuel to reduce dependence on imported LPG and utilise surplus domestic ethanol production capacity. Measures including interest subsidies, support for multi-feedstock distilleries and long-term ethanol procurement agreements are being used to strengthen domestic production.
