Call to raise blending target
The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has urged the Union government to increase the ethanol blending level in petrol beyond 20%, and to give greater priority to ethanol produced by sugar mills.
Meeting with Union minister
ISMA representatives said they recently met Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi in New Delhi to present their demands. According to the association, the minister assured them that after addressing issues related to crude oil imports, the government would focus on ethanol-related matters.
Savings and supply status
The association noted that the Centre has allowed sale of petrol blended with 20% ethanol since 2025, which it said has reduced fuel imports and helped save about Rs 1.36 lakh crore in foreign exchange.
Procurement focus sought for sugar-mill ethanol
For the current ethanol supply year, ISMA said that between November and February, 119 crore litres of ethanol were supplied to oil companies out of an assured 292 crore litres. It also said grain-based ethanol supply stood at 209 crore litres, which it described as 27% of the assured 766 crore litres, and that these details were conveyed to the minister. ISMA stressed that sugar mills support farmers and the rural economy, and called for higher procurement priority for ethanol produced by sugar mills.
