India's E20 ethanol blending programme is a carefully structured, multi-year initiative that has brought together oil marketing companies, ethanol producers, the automobile industry, research scientists, and automobile research associations, according to R. Ramachandran, retired Director (Refineries) at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). Speaking on 5 July, Ramachandran said the coordinated, cross-sector approach has ensured that technical, operational, and policy dimensions were all addressed before implementation began.

What the E20 Programme Entails

'The E20 ethanol blending initiative has been a well-thought-out, multi-year process in which all stakeholders have been involved — oil companies, ethanol producers, the automobile industry, research scientists, and automobile research associations,' Ramachandran said. He noted that this structured engagement has been central to the programme's orderly rollout across the country.

E85 Not Yet Government Policy

On the question of higher ethanol blends, Ramachandran drew a clear distinction between current policy and future exploration. E85, he clarified, is not part of any formal government policy or implementation plan at present. 'It is being explored only as a potential option for the future,' he said, adding that the consideration is inspired by countries such as Brazil, where E100 has been developed and deployed alongside flex-fuel engine technology.

Water Conservation Imperative for Ethanol Expansion

Addressing concerns about water usage as ethanol production scales up, Ramachandran stressed that industries must prioritise water conservation alongside increased output. He highlighted the importance of achieving near-100 per cent water recycling, maximising the use of treated wastewater, and deploying technologies such as reverse osmosis and demineralisation plants to produce industrial-grade water. He also recommended that industries adopt alternative cooling systems — including air-based, compressed-air, and chilled-air technologies — to reduce dependence on water-intensive processes.

India's Energy Security and Crude Diversification

On the broader question of India's energy security, Ramachandran said the country's resilience rests on a steady diversification of its crude oil import basket over the past five to six years. The Indian oil industry, working in coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has expanded its sourcing options, enabling the country to manage potential supply disruptions — including those arising from geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz — by accessing alternative crude suppliers.

As India pushes toward its 20 per cent ethanol blending target, the programme's multi-stakeholder architecture and the industry's focus on water and energy resilience will be critical to sustaining momentum beyond the current phase.