NEW DELHI, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- India says it plans to increase the amount of ethanol blended with gasoline from 5 percent to 10 percent.
"Measures have been taken to make auto fuels environment-friendly and the introduction of ethanol-blended petrol would also bring more income to the farmers," said Murli Deora, India's petroleum and natural gas minister, while inaugurating the Petrotech-2007 conference.
Deora said that during the current year, his ministry would implement 5 percent ethanol blending by procuring an estimated 145 million gallons of ethanol.
"We plan to enhance this program to 10 percent blend as early as possible," Deora said.
India has implemented the 5 percent ethanol-blending program in nine states: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Goa.
