20% Ethanol blending has no impact on food security or water stress: Centre

New Delhi: The government has not yet decided to raise ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 20 per cent level, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi told the Rajya Sabha on Monday, adding that any future increase would follow further scientific study and consultation with industry.

Meanwhile, the Centre also said India's target of achieving 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol has not impacted food security or water sustainability, asserting that the programme uses only surplus agricultural produce after meeting the country's food requirements.

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said the government's ethanol blending programme follows a strict "waste-to-wealth" model while prioritising procurement for food security schemes.

"The target of 20% ethanol blending has not affected food crop availability or India's food security," Gopi said.

He added that the government follows "an open-ended procurement system at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), under which procurement for the Public Distribution System (PDS), National Food Security Act (NFSA), Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) and prescribed buffer stocks is accorded the highest priority."

According to the minister, only surplus foodgrains are diverted for ethanol production after food security requirements have been fully met.

"Only surplus foodgrains, as determined by the Department of Food & Public Distribution after meeting all food security requirements and maintaining prescribed buffer stocks, are permitted for ethanol production," the written reply said.

The government said the programme follows a "'waste-to-wealth' approach" by using surplus agricultural produce, including damaged foodgrains, broken rice and grains unfit for human consumption, while also promoting second-generation (2G) ethanol produced from agricultural residues.

Addressing concerns over water usage, Gopi said the government has diversified the feedstocks used for ethanol production, reducing dependence on water-intensive crops such as sugarcane.

"A balanced approach to the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, ensuring that water sustainability, food security and farmers' interests remain paramount," the minister said.

He noted that the contribution of maize, a relatively less water-intensive crop, has increased significantly.

"The contribution of maize towards ethanol blending has increased from 0% in ESY 21-22 to around 37% in ESY 25-26," the reply stated.

The government said it is also encouraging crop diversification towards less water-intensive feedstocks. Recommendations made by an expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2024 are being considered as part of the programme's implementation. Water-use efficiency is also being improved through micro-irrigation, drip irrigation and other conservation measures under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.

The Centre further maintained that ethanol production has not contributed to food inflation.

"Only surplus sugar is being diverted for ethanol production," the reply said, adding that the annual increase in retail sugar prices is around 2.5% compared with the 2024-25 sugar season.

It also stated that the diversion of surplus rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for ethanol production has had "no impact" on retail food inflation as it takes place only after food security and buffer stock requirements are fulfilled.

On the environmental front, the government said molasses- and grain-based distilleries are required to comply with Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) norms, ensuring that process water is recycled and reused without releasing liquid effluents into the environment.

The Centre reiterated that its transition towards cleaner fuels is being implemented without compromising food security, water sustainability or farmers' interests.