Note

  • Ethanol Blending involves mixing ethanol with petrol to create a cleaner, more sustainable fuel. Initially, the target was 5% blending, which has now been increased to 20% blending.

Benefits

  • Reduces hydrocarbon emissions, making the atmosphere cleaner (GHG emissions from the use of sugarcane- and maize-based ethanol are 65% and 50% lower than those of petrol, respectively).
  • Saves precious foreign exchange by reducing demand for imports.
  • Ensures an alternate source of income for farmers.

Challenges

  • It can lead to a food security crisis due to food crop diversion and water usage for sugarcane cultivation.

 

Source: The Hindu