The Government recently directed OMCs to sell petrol blended with up to 20% ethanol, meeting a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95, across all states and Union Territories from April 1, 2026.
Lauding the decision of the Government as an extremely positive signal for the country’s energy transition journey, Samir Somaiya, Chairman & Managing Director, Godavari Biorefineries Limited (GBL), said that not too long ago, the Government had set a vision to achieve 20% ethanol blending by 2030.
“With consistent policy support and strong industry participation, we have achieved this target by 2025. This gives us the confidence to think boldly once again,” he said.
Somaiya stated that with E20 now becoming the new national baseline, the question that should be collectively asked is – can India now aim for E50 in the near future?
“In my view, the answer is yes. There are multiple pathways through which this can be achieved. First, the industry today has demonstrated sufficient capacity and resilience to support higher blending percentages. Second, there is an urgent need to enable Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) in India by providing them a level playing field similar to Electric Vehicles. FFVs must be viewed with the same policy yardstick as EVs if India is serious about accelerating its transition away from fossil fuels,” he said.
India’s long-term energy security will come from playing to its inherent strengths, the Sun, the Soil and the Small Farmer.
Somaiya said that as India moves towards its Net Zero targets, defossilisation cannot happen only through electrification; it has to come from the ground – from farms, from regenerative agriculture and from bio-based value chains that convert crop surplus into clean energy.
“At Godavari Biorefineries Limited, we pioneered the manufacturing of ethanol directly from sugarcane juice. We believe deeply in working with farmers and co-creating solutions using modern technology, soil science and regenerative agriculture practices to improve sugarcane yields sustainably,” he said.
He added that growth in sugar demand remains modest and manageable, “We are fully aligned with the principle of ‘Food First, Fuel Second’. Our efforts are focused on ensuring adequate crop surplus that can simultaneously support India’s Net Zero goals, enhance energy security, mitigate climate change and improve farmer incomes”.
