India: government driving increase in bio-based fuels consumption to reduce crude petroleum imports

The Indian government is consistently pushing toward its bio-based fuel consumption targets to reduce the country's reliance on imported crude petroleum.

The national average ethanol penetration in the November 2024-January 2025 period was 17.4% v/v, a solid step toward meeting the government’s target of 20% at the end of fiscal year 2024-25. The average blending rate in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2023-24, which ran from November 2023 to October 2024, was 14.6% v/v, slightly less than the target of 15% v/v.

As of October 2024, E20 was available in 17,400 fuel stations, excluding those operated by private oil companies. To ensure the 20% v/v penetration target timeline is met, the oil marketing companies (OM