India Bars Sugar-Based Ethanol From 2026-27 Tender For Petrol Blend
The tender, issued on October 16 by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) on behalf of oil marketing companies (OMCs), seeks bids for around 11 billion litres of ethanol for the supply year beginning November to meet the requirement of doping 20 per cent ethanol in petrol.
India has barred sugar-based ethanol from its latest procurement tender for the 2026-27 supply year, lowering its incentive for maize-based ethanol to reduce competition with food supplies. The move reflects concerns over domestic sugar availability and rising prices following poor rainfall in key sugar-producing states. The ethanol-blended petrol program, which relies on both grain-based and sugarcane-based ethanol, aims to reduce crude oil imports and cut vehicle emissions.
However, the restriction on sugar-based feedstocks emphasizes the need for alternative raw materials like maize, broken rice, surplus rice, and C-heavy molasses. The government is balancing energy-security objectives with the need to maintain adequate sugar supplies and contain domestic prices.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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