New Delhi: India has ramped up its energy infrastructure with a notable increase in petroleum product retail outlets, now totaling 81,529 across the country. Among these, 13,569 outlets now dispense Ethanol Blended Petrol (E20), aligning with the national target to achieve 20 per cent ethanol blending by 2025, according to the latest Ready Reckoner report from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).
The report highlights that ethanol blending in petrol has reached 12.1 per cent on a cumulative basis for the current Ethanol Supply Year (ESY Dec’22-Oct’23). This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance sustainable fuel practices across the nation.
In another significant development, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) has been expanded to include 75 lakh additional LPG connections in the past three years, increasing the total number of active domestic LPG connections to 32.4 crore. The subsidy on PMUY refills has also been increased from ₹200 to ₹300 per cylinder for up to 12 refills annually, making LPG more affordable for households.
In the aviation sector, India achieved a milestone with its first commercial passenger flight using an indigenously produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend. The flight from Pune to Delhi in May this year utilized SAF blended Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) produced using indigenous feedstock, marking a significant step towards decarbonizing the aviation industry.
The government has also set a regulatory timeline for the ‘Compressed Bio-Gas Blending Obligation‘ (CBO) in the City Gas Distribution (CGD) sector, mandating a gradual increase from 1 per cent to 5 per cent of total CNG/PNG consumption by 2028-29, starting FY 2025-26.
Additionally, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation‘s (ONGC) Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) Bid Round-VIII has expanded the nation’s exploration acreage by 34,364.53 sq. km, bringing the total to 242,055 sq. km. This expansion is aimed at accelerating exploration and production activities to bolster India’s energy self-sufficiency.
