Government Pushes Biogas Blending as Ethanol Protests Mount
New Delhi is seeing a flurry of activity on the alternative fuels front. While protests against ethanol blending in petrol continue across the nation, the government has given its nod to the 'Gobardhan' scheme. This new initiative focuses on blending biogas into CNG and PNG, aiming for a 5% mix.
The ambitious Gobardhan scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, carries a budget of ₹23,731 crore. This plan is set to unfold over the next ten years, with the goal of integrating biogas into the country's gas supply.
Gobardhan Scheme: A Deeper Dive
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared details after the cabinet meeting. The scheme is designed to convert agricultural waste, cow dung, organic waste, and other biomass resources into clean fuel and organic manure. Urban gas distribution companies are expected to start procuring biogas under this framework.
The blending targets are set to gradually increase. Starting with three percent in the financial year 2026-27, it will rise to four percent in 2027-28, and then reach five percent from 2028-29 onwards. Minister Vaishnaw highlighted that the Gobardhan scheme's core objective is to boost domestic compressed biogas (CBG) production more than tenfold, significantly strengthening India's energy security.
Congress Raises Concerns Over Ethanol Blending
Meanwhile, the debate around ethanol blending in petrol, specifically the E-20 rollout, is heating up. The Congress party has accused the Centre of implementing E-20 in a hurry, allegedly ignoring its potential impact on water resources and food security.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed out that while many countries produce ethanol from agricultural residues and other waste biomass, India largely depends on sugarcane, rice, and maize. He noted that sugarcane and paddy alone consume approximately 70% of the country's total irrigation water, raising questions about sustainability.
Aviation Fuel Clarification: No Ethanol Blending Planned
Separately, the government has addressed allegations about blending ethanol into Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu took to social media on Thursday to clarify that there is no proposal or plan to mix ethanol with jet fuel.
This clarification came in response to claims made by AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who had alleged that the government was preparing to blend ethanol into aviation fuel. Minister Naidu's post firmly stated that reports of ethanol blending in ATF are entirely false.
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