Government Initiatives in the Petroleum Sector
To ensure energy security, reduce dependence on imported crude oil, and promote clean energy, the Government of India has launched several important initiatives in the petroleum sector. These initiatives aim to encourage the use of biofuels, expand infrastructure, and diversify energy sources.
1. Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana
This scheme promotes the production of bio-ethanol from agricultural residues and waste biomass. It supports the establishment of Second Generation (2G) and Third Generation (3G) ethanol plants. The goal is to produce sustainable and environment-friendly fuel, reducing pollution and supporting rural income.
2. Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR)
The government has created underground storage facilities to store crude oil for emergency use. The SPRs are located at:
- Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
- Mangalore and Padur (Karnataka)
These reserves have a total capacity of 33 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT). The storage facilities are managed by the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL).
3. Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP)
The programme promotes the blending of ethanol with petrol to reduce the use of fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions. The government has set a target of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025–26. Ethanol supply has risen from 38 crore litres in 2013–14 to over 4 crore litres in 2023–24, showing significant progress.
4. City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network Expansion
- This initiative aims to expand the supply of:
- Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for domestic and industrial use.
- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for transport.
- As of now, the CGD network covers 733 districts across 34 states and Union Territories. The network covers almost 100% of the mainland area of the country.
5. Energy Security Initiatives
- India is investing in exploration and acquisition of oil and gas blocks overseas. These investments aim to secure long-term energy supplies and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
Source: https://pmuy.gov.in/about.html
