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The central government is preparing to take a major step to increase the use of clean and environmentally friendly fuels in the country. After expanding the use of ethanol blends in petrol, reports have emerged that the government is now planning to expand the use of ethanol for cooking. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is developing a new policy, in which it is considering providing subsidies to promote ethanol-powered stoves.

According to media reports, this policy is expected to be finalized by September. The main objective of this scheme is to reduce dependence on LPG, reduce fuel import costs, and increase the use of environmentally friendly fuels.

Ethanol is a biofuel produced by processing sugarcane, grains, and other sugar crops. Ethanol production capacity in India has expanded significantly, exceeding 20 billion liters annually. A further 4 billion liters is expected to be added in the current financial year. Although a 20 percent ethanol blend is widely used in petrol, the country is said to have a significant amount of ethanol remaining. 

The government plans to use this excess production for home cooking. Oil marketing companies are reportedly conducting research and trials on ethanol-powered stoves to achieve this goal. In the future, discussions are also underway to install dedicated "ethanol ATMs" at petrol pumps and make ethanol available to consumers by the gallon.

According to experts, increasing ethanol use will help reduce LPG imports and strengthen the country's energy security. However, the government has not yet made any official announcement on this proposal. Therefore, clear information regarding subsidies, implementation, and usage rules will only be available after the final policy is announced.

PC: Aaj Tak