In a momentous day for India’s green energy transition, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) sent its first tanker of ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) to Port Blair.

This development paves way for blended fuel availability covering the entire country.

The maiden coastal parcel of Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit (EBMS), commonly known as EBP was loaded for Port Blair in the vessel, MT Fairway, and flagged off from Haldia terminal.

Earlier India achieved the target of blending 12 per cent ethanol with petrol during the ethanol supply year (ESY), which concluded on 31 October 2023.

“(Oil) Secretary Pankaj Jain told me that we have already done 12 per cent this month, which was our target, and we are well towards reaching our target of 20 per cent biofuel blending by the calendar year 2025,” Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said while launching reference fuels produced by state-run refining and marketing behemoth Indian Oil Corporation.

The government had aimed to reach 12 per cent ethanol blending with petrol in the ESY 2022-23 (spanning from December 2022 to October 2023), and has further set the target at 15 per cent for the ESY 2023–24 (November 2023–October 2024).

More than 15 crore litres of blended fuel has already been sold across more than 6,000 pumps in India. With the tanker sailing to Port Blair, blended fuel availability now covers the entire country.