BPCL, IOC study impact of blending with 10% ethanol

The issue of increasing ethanol blend in petrol to 10%, from the current level of 5%, has once again fuelled protests from amongst Indias oil marketing companies. While Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) says that ethanol quantity in the domestic market would be insufficient, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is of the view that branded fuel shouldn’t be supplied without ethanol blending. BPCL in its presentation to the petroleum ministry, said the estimated alcohol production in the country during 2006-07 was 2.3 million kiloliter (kl) and the estimated surplus after setting aside for industrial and potable use was 0.823 million kl, which could be made available for ethanol blending. Industry’s annual ethanol requirement is about 0.60 million kl for 5% ethanol blending, which would be increased to 1.20 million kl for 10% ethanol blending for the whole country except Jammu and Kashmir, the northeastern states and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (May 10, 2008)