Frequently Asked Questions on Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme
Q1. What is EBP stands for, and when was it launched?
Ans: EBP stands for ethanol blending petrol program, which aims to blend ethanol (C2H5OH) with petrol to promote the use of renewable fuels. It was launched in 2003.
Q2. What are the environmental impacts of the Ethanol Blending Petrol (EBP) Programme?
Ans: Impacts of EBP on the environment:
- The CO (Carbon Monoxide) emissions by the vehicles will be reduced by half, reducing pollution and the greenhouse effect.
- It will also promote the use of environmentally friendly fuels.
Q3. List any three initiatives the Government of India took under the Ethanol Blending Petrol (EBP) Programme.
Ans: Initiatives taken by the Government of India under EBP are:
- Amendment to Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951, enables smooth ethanol movement across the country.
- GST reduction on ethanol from 18% to 5%
Q4. Write any two objectives of the Ethanol Blending Petrol (EBP) Programme.
Ans: The objectives of EBP are as follows:
- Reduce pollution: Ethanol is more combustible than motor fuel, leading to lower emission of harmful gases from the exhaust of vehicles and thus reducing pollution.
- Conserve Foreign exchange: Ethanol Blending will reduce the import of fuel in the country and, in turn, conserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves for other purposes.
Q5. Give any two challenges faced by Ethanol Blending Petrol (EBP) Programme.
Ans: Two challenges faced by EBP are:
- Transporting ethanol is a risky and costly task as ethanol is not produced all over the country.
- The ethanol manufacturing units in the country are not able to meet the ethanol demand of the country.
Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program
Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (EBP) is an initiative by the Government of India (GoI) under the National Policy on Biofuels. It was launched in the year 2003. It aims to promote renewable energy, reduce the import of fuels from other countries, and promote the use of environment-friendly fuels.
The government aims to mix 5% ethanol in fuel by 2020, which will increase by 20% (E20) by 2030. Ethanol needed to be blended will be sourced from domestic sources and at prices fixed by the government. This initiative will impact various sectors, including agriculture, environment, energy, etc. It will also help the farmers to earn extra income as the ethanol will be produced as a side product from Sugarcane, Maize, Bajra, Fruit and Vegetable wastes, etc.