As on date, the number of Retail Outlets (ROs) selling biofuels in the country are as under:
No. of ROs selling Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) – 90
No. of ROs selling E100 – 3
In addition, Ethanol Blended Petrol is sold across the country.
Government vide Resolution dated 8th November, 2019, has revised the guidelines for authorization to market transportation fuels. The authorized entities are required to install facilities for marketing at least one new generation alternate fuel including biofuel at their proposed retail outlets within three years of operation of the said outlet subject to the entity complying with various other statutory guidelines.
Study undertaken by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers (SIAM) has indicated that E-20 blending resulted in higher reduction in Carbon Monoxide emission by 50% in two wheelers and 30% in four wheelers as compared to normal petrol. Further, Hydrocarbon emission reduced by 20% in both two wheelers and four wheelers as compared to normal petrol.
There are no definitive estimates on actual savings of foreign currency as it depends on various factors like crude prices and prevailing foreign exchange (forex) rates etc., However, Ethanol blending in Petrol upto 15th November, 2022 during the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2021-22 (ESY: 1st December to 30th November) is estimated to have had an impact of over Rs. 20,000 crore on the import bill of crude oil and petroleum products.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.