India’s ethanol blending of petrol has reached 20%, but the bigger story is stubborn: crude oil import dependence has risen to over 90% from 84% earlier. The ethanol switch is saving only about USD 3 billion a year—roughly 2% to 3% of the total oil import bill—so the expected gains are not translating into lower reliance.
India is considering higher ethanol blending in both petrol and diesel, aiming to cut the country’s 87% crude import dependency. During an inter-ministerial briefing, Petroleum Ministry Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma said talks with stakeholders are underway, reflecting Nitin Gadkari’s vision of moving toward 100% blending. The move targets greater energy self-reliance amid Middle East volatility.
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India is rapidly scaling ethanol, a sugar-based fuel, to reduce dependence on imported crude and raise incomes for farmers. Policy shifts are enabling higher ethanol blends for vehicles and even aviation, with plans moving toward E20 and exploring E100. The effort brings agriculture, energy, and transport sectors together for a coordinated energy transition.
Andhra Pradesh is set to roll out a policy that allows large data centres to obtain power distribution licences. The move is aimed at securing reliable electricity for high-demand facilities. Firms that meet defined eligibility criteria could build and operate their own internal power distribution systems, reducing supply uncertainty as data needs surge.
India is exploring ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 20% benchmark and is also pushing flex-fuel vehicles to enable higher biofuel use. The government is holding discussions with industry stakeholders as it plans for a broader shift in transport fuel. The goal: reduce dependence on imported oil while strengthening domestic biofuel production and consumption.
India’s data centres are expanding, and with them comes a quiet demand for reliable power. A fleet of older, gas-based plants—often neglected and underutilised—could find a renewed role. But whether they actually power Digital India hinges on unglamorous realities: policy signals, gas and power pricing, and political will to make the economics work.
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India’s gas expansion is constrained by a rigid, outdated pipeline and market setup, even as Europe advances with flexible, market-led network models. The Entry-Exit framework is touted as a potential turning point for clearer pricing and competition, but success depends on whether policymakers will implement reforms boldly and consistently across the system.
India’s crude oil and natural gas output kept falling in 2025-26, extending an 11-year slide as ageing fields drain production and new discoveries fail to replace losses. The result: rising import dependence. Even with policy reforms, foreign investment remains limited and fears over policy stability are discouraging exploration needed to reverse domestic decline.
India’s push to revive nuclear power using private capital is colliding with a dispute between state-run NPCIL and private players. A 90-page rulebook has become the flashpoint, with private firms alleging the framework tilts toward control rather than partnership, raising fresh questions over the path to faster projects.
The “ethanol man of India” argues the country’s energy future won’t be driven by EVs, but by flex-fuel vehicles. Praj Industries, long seen as the go-to ethanol player, spent nearly three decades fighting to gain ground. Its turnaround is being pitched as a roadmap for other companies trying to scale in India’s flex-fuel ecosystem.
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India may be able to cut LPG imports by blending 20% dimethyl ether (DME) produced from coal gasification. A report estimates savings of 6.3 million tonnes of LPG annually and over USD 4 billion in foreign exchange, alongside about Rs 34,200 crore yearly. The Bureau of Indian Standards already allows the blend, but investment depends on clearer policy to expand domestic DME production.
India’s Ministry of Coal plans to launch the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions on April 17. The programme aims to boost ease of doing business, attract fresh investment, and broaden participation by offering both fully explored and partially explored blocks. Established miners, new entrants, and technology-driven firms are expected to bid, supporting wider industry involvement.
India’s clean energy ministry is reviewing petitions from solar manufacturers and developers contesting a new mandate requiring domestically made solar cells starting in June. Industry groups warn the country lacks enough local capacity, which could trigger supply shortages, higher module prices, and delays in renewable energy projects unless the rule is revised or phased.
China and India are throwing billions into green hydrogen, building large production capacity as demand and policy support lag in parts of the West. China is pushing for scale to protect industrial dominance, while India leans on subsidies and domestic demand aggregation for energy security. Together, their political resolve and financing are shaping a faster-growing hydrogen market.
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Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, a Coal India subsidiary, has introduced a new scheme to push power companies to lift more coal and reduce their costs. The plan prioritises higher offtake, especially through rail, to support reliable electricity supply and India’s energy self-reliance. Incentives will be awarded based on actual coal lifted against quarterly targets.
Larsen & Toubro says it will deepen its role in India’s nuclear buildout, citing decades of involvement in technology development, manufacturing and localisation. The firm expects its revenues to triple within five years, tied to the government’s plan to expand nuclear capacity from about 8.8 GW today to 100 GW by 2047.
The government’s decision to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel has sparked expectations that windfall taxes on fuel exports will plug the revenue gap. But the simple arithmetic doesn’t back that optimism. With crude-price volatility still in play, the balancing act may fall short if costs rise faster than export-related gains.
ONGC has cancelled multiple tenders for jack-up rigs, triggering alarm across India’s offshore drilling industry. Rig operators are reportedly considering withdrawing assets from the country, which could slow or disrupt domestic oil production and jeopardize future exploration plans. The move highlights how procurement decisions are now directly affecting capacity in the offshore sector.
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India has approved ethanol and synthetic hydrocarbons to be blended into aviation fuel to lower emissions and reduce dependence on imported oil. The government did not set near-term blending targets, but it plans to add 1 percent sustainable aviation fuel to international flights by 2027. The step mirrors global aviation efforts toward carbon-neutral growth.
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