Government aims to achieve its 5% biodiesel blending goal by 2030

Officials have revealed that the government's strategy to achieve a 5 per cent biodiesel blend in diesel sales by 2030 hinges on the utilisation of ethanol. Biodiesel, a biodegradable fuel commonly employed in Europe, originates from sources like vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled restaurant grease.However, the widespread implementation of biodiesel across the nation has encountered numerous obstacles, primarily due to the limited accessibility of biodiesel feedstock. Despite efforts to enhance the existing national biodiesel policy with additional incentives, viable solutions remained elusive, according to statements provided to Business Standard by officials.Consequently, the directive was issued to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to concentrate their research on effectively integrating ethanol into diesel on a commercial scale. The government's ethanol blending initiative has achieved considerable success within the realm of petrol, with E20 petrol (a blend of 20 per cent ethanol and petrol) being retailed at over 1,900 fuel stations throughout the country.A representative from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas commented that exploring the feasibility of ethanol-infused diesel as a cleaner fuel option is a logical step forward. The progress in this domain is being closely monitored.In addition, both BPCL and HPCL are actively engaged in endeavours to operate vehicles using diesel infused with ethanol, the representative added.