Ethanol Fuel Network Expansion: 5,000 Dispensing Stations Planned by 2027

Key facts

• The Government of India plans to expand the national ethanol fuel network to 5,000 dispensing stations by the close of 2027.
• Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) Hardeep Singh Puri stated the rollout begins with 50 to 100 stations in Delhi-NCR, Pune, Mumbai, and Nagpur, aiming for 500 stations by late 2026.
• The adoption of flex-fuel vehicles is projected to create an additional ethanol demand of 311.8 crore litres and generate ₹12,403 crore in extra income for farmers.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) suggested amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to permit higher ethanol blends like E85 and E100, B100 biodiesel, and hydrogen-CNG.
• India has increased ethanol blending with petrol from 1.5% in 2014 to 20%, saving ₹1.84 lakh crore in foreign exchange by replacing 302 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil.