Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Union government to increase the ethanol blending limit in petrol from the current 20% to 40%, citing the need to reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil.
His appeal comes amid rising tensions in West Asia and a steady increase in crude prices. The Centre recently raised petrol and diesel prices, while India continues to rely on imports for about 80% of its fuel needs.
Naidu, who recently visited Delhi, met Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and discussed the issue. He said countries such as Brazil have higher ethanol blending levels and argued that a higher blend would strengthen India’s energy security and reduce the import burden of petroleum products.
According to the Chief Minister, the ongoing ethanol blending programme has helped save foreign exchange worth Rs 1.1 lakh crore and cut carbon emissions by 50 million tonnes. He also said farmers across the country have earned a combined Rs 87,558 crore through the initiative, and that a higher blending rate could further improve farm incomes.
Naidu noted that maize is a key feedstock for ethanol production and said demand for the crop would rise significantly. However, he pointed out that maize farmers are not receiving the minimum support price of Rs 2,400 per quintal, and urged the Centre to take an early decision on raising the blending rate while safeguarding farmers’ interests.
