Ethanol blended petrol launched in Delhi

India's ambitious programme to cut oil import dependence by mixing ethanol in petrol has reached the national capital, with Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat formally launching the environment friendly fuel on Tuesday.

He also inaugurated the Shaheed Matbar Singh Negi Filling Point, a petrol/diesel station at Rohini allotted to the family of Matbar Singh Negi, a security personnel who died while defending Parliament from terrorist attack on December 13, 2001.

Speaking on the occasion, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said the five per cent ethanol blended petrol programme is part of the United PA Government's commitment to put in place policies that enhance the country's energy security.

The programme marks a significant step in utilising alternative, renewable and environment-friendly

sources of energy like ethanol to supplement hydrocarbon fuels. Besides augmenting fuel availability in the country, the programme would also provide better returns for sugarcane farmers.

Further, as ethanol is environment-friendly it enhances combustion of petrol, resulting in lower emission of pollutants, he said.

To implement the programme nationwide, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas had issued notifications for implementation of EBP on all-India basis except in Jammu and Kashmir, north-eastern states, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshdweep where Ethanol cannot be made available due to logistic reasons.