EBP Programme Saves Citizens ₹30/Litre Amid Global Crude Volatility
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas defended its Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, citing significant financial relief to consumers amid global crude oil volatility. The programme has saved Indian citizens nearly ₹30 per litre at the pump during peak crisis times.
If ethanol blending had not been introduced, retail petrol prices in Delhi would have surged to about ₹125 per litre, the ministry stated. This is because 20% of each litre of petrol sold in India is domestically produced ethanol, procured at stable pre-agreed prices insulated from global market fluctuations.
The EBP Programme has generated over ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange savings by substituting over 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude and reducing CO₂ emissions by more than 950 lakh metric tonnes. The initiative has also resulted in direct payments worth more than ₹1.66 lakh crore to farmers and distillers, creating a sustainable local market for agricultural products.