Ethanol Blending

The Centre said there is no proposal to revert to ethanol-free or E10 petrol, citing E20 fuel's scientific validation, widespread adoption and benefits for energy security and sustainability

Crop residue, farmer collectives, and biomass industries can unlock fresh incomes, cleaner energy, and stronger agricultural value chains

The government has not yet decided to raise ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 20 per cent level, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi told the Rajya Sabha on Monday, adding that any future increase would follow further scientific study and consultation with industry. "So far, no decision has been taken by the government for increasing ethanol blending with petrol beyond 20 per cent," Gopi said in a written reply to a question. Any move higher would come "only after detailed scientific and technical studies and consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers, Oil Marketing Companies and research institutions," he said. Gopi said India reached the 20 per cent blending target five years ahead of schedule, with average blending rising from about 1.53 per cent in 2013-14 to 20 per cent in the 2025-26 supply year, after more than two decades of phased rollout. Since 2014-15, he said, the programme has saved over 1.97 ...

India's ethanol story has largely revolved around E20 petrol, but from aviation and industry to clean cooking, the biofuel is finding new applications that could shape its next phase

The Supreme Court adjourned the ethanol allocation dispute to July 29 after the Centre assured it that discussions were under way to evolve an equitable solution for all stakeholders

The Raipur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held that consumers could not be expected to avoid using E20 petrol when it had become the commonly available fuel at petrol pumps.

India has achieved 20% ethanol blending and boosted domestic output, yet continues to rely on US imports, keeping its ethanol trade deficit elevated

The government explains E20 petrol pricing citing higher ethanol procurement cost, but motorists still lack a transparent price build-up, a cost-per-km comparison and a retail tax concession

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari defended the Centre's ethanol-blending programme, saying motorists who prefer 100 per cent petrol can buy it, but will have to pay more than for ethanol-blended fuel

Nagpur Police have registered an FIR against several social media account holders for allegedly spreading false and defamatory content targeting Gadkari over E20 fuel

Amid concerns over the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20), researchers at IIT Kanpur on Tuesday claimed that their studies found no significant drop in fuel efficiency and "no evidence" that E20 harms engines in either existing or older vehicles. The reported findings follow Oil Ministry's clarification last week stating that E20 can reduce mileage by up to 5 per cent in some vehicles, but the impact is outweighed by several benefits, including a lower lifecycle carbon emissions. Dhruv Raj Karana, Project Scientist of the Engine Research Laboratory in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur's Department of Mechanical Engineering, claimed that the fuel efficiency decrease is less than 5 per cent with the E20 fuel, according to the research conducted at the institute. He told PTI that the up to 5 per cent decrease could be due to factors other than fuel and that a similar result can be obtained "even if back to back tests are repeated with pure ...

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss concerns over E20 petrol, requesting that options for pure and E20 petrol be made available at fuel stations, with lower prices for ethanol-blended petrol. In a letter to the PM, Kejriwal said he wanted to explain the technical issues and the feedback he received from people related to the matter during his proposed meeting. Kejriwal said customers should have the choice to buy either pure petrol or E20 petrol at fuel stations. "If someone wants pure petrol, they should get that option and those wanting E20 should also have that choice," he said. Kejriwal said he had written to the prime minister after interacting with people and understanding their concerns regarding E20 petrol. The AAP chief also sought a reduction in E20 petrol prices, saying the blended fuel provides lower mileage compared to regular petrol. Kejriwal said the party has started an online petition for citizen

FADA says its nationwide dealer network has not reported a single documented E20-related complaint and has launched an awareness drive to address customer concerns

The government cited logistical challenges and investments in ethanol infrastructure while acknowledging that E20 fuel delivers 3-5 per cent lower mileage than conventional petrol

Brazil avoided it, but India seems to be rushing through the ethanol transition at consumers' expense viewpoint

Petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol (E20) can reduce fuel economy by 3-5 per cent in some vehicles, the Oil Ministry said on Friday, but argued the impact is outweighed by benefits, including a higher octane rating, superior anti-knock characteristics, faster combustion, better pickup, smoother acceleration, cleaner engine operation, and lower lifecycle carbon emissions. In a detailed question-and-answer document issued to counter criticism of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said E20 was a "cleaner, higher-quality and more efficient fuel" than E10 or pure petrol and had been rolled out only after years of scientific testing, consultations with automobile manufacturers and the expansion of domestic ethanol production. The ministry rejected concerns that the programme had been implemented too quickly, saying India's ethanol blending initiative dates back to pilot projects launched in 2001, with 5 per cent blending introduced in parts

If one-fifth of every litre of petrol is now ethanol, why hasn't E20 become cheaper? Here's the government's answer

India has already achieved 20% ethanol blending and is now looking beyond E20. But as debates over mileage, vehicle compatibility and consumer concerns continue, Brazil's decades-long biofuel journey

Petroleum minister says E20 has been used safely for nearly two years and argues higher ethanol blending will reduce crude imports, support farmers and strengthen India's energy security

India's E20 rollout should balance energy security with consumer choice, smoother vehicle transition and a shift towards more sustainable ethanol feedstocks