The Centre has strongly defended the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, dismissing recent allegations over foodgrain diversion and subsidies as “misleading” and asserting that ethanol blending protected Indian consumers from a sharp spike in fuel prices during the Iran conflict.
In a detailed clarification, the government on Friday said the programme is aimed at strengthening India’s energy security, reducing dependence on imported crude oil and supporting farmers, while ensuring that food security remains uncompromised, according to the statement.
Highlighting the programme’s economic benefits, the government said ethanol blending insulated Indian consumers from global crude oil volatility during the recent Iran conflict.
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According to the Centre, when the Indian crude basket surged to around US$135 per barrel, petrol prices in Delhi could have reached around Rs 125 per litre without ethanol blending.
Instead, consumers paid Rs 94.77 per litre, as 20 per cent of petrol comprised domestically produced ethanol procured at pre-agreed prices, resulting in savings of nearly Rs 30 per litre during the peak of the oil price surge.
‘Food Security Comes First’
Rejecting claims that subsidised Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice was diverted to ethanol production, the government said no foodgrain is allocated for ethanol until all obligations under the Public Distribution System (PDS), the National Food Security Act (NFSA), welfare schemes and mandatory buffer stocks have been met.
It said only certified surplus stocks, along with damaged grain, broken rice and foodgrain unfit for human consumption, are used for ethanol production.
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According to the Centre, the programme converts surplus and unusable grain into clean energy rather than diverting food meant for the poor.
FCI Rice ‘Not The Backbone’ Of Ethanol Production
The government also rejected claims that ethanol producers received FCI rice at concessional rates, saying its pricing follows the same policy framework as other approved feedstocks such as maize, sugarcane juice and molasses.
It noted that FCI rice contributed only 0.02 per cent of ethanol production in ESY 2023-24, with its share rising to 24.64 per cent in ESY 2025-26 only because surplus stocks became available after all food security requirements had been fulfilled.
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Rs 1.97 Lakh Crore Forex Savings
The government said the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme has so far delivered significant benefits, including:
- Foreign exchange savings of over Rs 1.97 lakh crore
- Replacement of more than 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil imports
- Reduction of over 950 lakh metric tonnes of carbon emissions
- More than Rs 1.66 lakh crore paid to farmers and distillers
The Centre reiterated that the programme is designed to reduce India’s reliance on imported crude oil, which still accounts for nearly 88 per cent of the country’s oil requirement, and serves as a safeguard against global energy shocks rather than a day-to-day fuel price mechanism.
