Petrol

Ethanol blending programme was introduced to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut energy imports

From April 1, all petrol pumps will sell E20 fuel with minimum RON 95; the government has kept the option open to grant temporary exemptions

The government has mandated the sale of petrol with up to 20 per cent ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 across all states and Union Territories from April 1, 2026. The oil ministry in a February 17 notification, said, "the central government hereby directs that oil companies shall sell ethanol-blended motor spirit (petrol) with percentage of ethanol up to 20 per cent as per the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications and having minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95, in states and the Union Territories". The central government can allow exceptions in special situations, for specific regions and for a limited time. Ethanol is made from sugarcane, maize, or grain. It is renewable, domestically produced and has cleaner burning than pure petrol. The government has mandated ethanol blending in petrol to help cut oil imports as also reduce emissions. Such a mandate also supports farmers as it boosts demand for sugarcane, maize and agricultural surplus. Most

Cooking gas demand increased by 12.7 per cent YoY in December supported by strong household demand

With fewer vehicles rolling in and enforcement teams stationed at entrances, petrol pumps across the national capital on Thursday wore a quieter look as the 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule came into force to curb worsening air pollution. At several fuel stations, vehicles were seen queued up as pollution certificates were checked, while some motorists without documents were turned away, prompting a few to make phone calls for help. At a Janpath petrol pump, Mukesh Kumar said the rules were justified but also questioned how people could be expected to stop using vehicles bought with hard-earned money. Another consumer at the pump supported the move, saying the rule was necessary to control pollution. A DTC in charge, JD Sharma, deployed at a petrol pump, said checks were being carried out manually as there were no cameras at the location. "We are checking pollution certificates and noting down vehicle details, which will be shared with the department concerned," he said. At the Delhi-Noida

Jio-BP, the fuel retailing joint venture of Reliance Industries and super major BP, clocked a 34 per cent rise in petrol and diesel sales in the September quarter as the joint venture aggressively expands its retail network. Jio-BP clocked 1.8 million sales of petrol and diesel in July-September, 34 per cent more than a year ago, according to an investor presentation made by the company after the second quarter earnings announcement. Also, helping the firm were good margins. "So, if you look at the volume and the growth, petrol and diesel together, we have done about 1.8 million kilolitre. That is a 34 per cent growth. ATF, which is jet fuel, we have done about 157,000 kilolitres. This is definitely lower than last quarter but what is important to note is we are maintaining the share there," Srinivas Tuttagunta, COO - Refining & Marketing at Reliance Industries Limited, said on the investor call. The ATF sales were lower than last year on account of a reduction in air traffic due .

A LocalCircles survey found that 52 per cent of petrol vehicle owners with cars bought in 2022 or earlier faced unusual wear and tear or repairs in 2025, affecting engines, tanks and carburetors

E20 is petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol, an alcohol mainly produced from sugarcane and grains such as maize and rice

The usage of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol in vehicles could lead to a 2-5 per cent drop in fuel efficiency, depending on the type of cars, according to automotive industry experts. In the midst of social media debate over the impact of E20 fuel on vehicles, automotive engineers working with some of the major automakers, whom PTI spoke to, said that in older vehicles, which are not E20 compliant, there could be erosion of gaskets, fuel rubber hoses and pipes in the long term, but not immediately. "There can be a drop in mileage ranging from 2-5 per cent, depending on the type of vehicle. This is purely because of the lower calorific value of ethanol compared to petrol," said an expert requesting anonymity. Earlier this month, the Oil Ministry clarified that "the critiques suggest that E20 causes a 'drastic' reduction in fuel efficiency are misplaced". However, it did not state the percentage drop in fuel efficiency. "The efficiency drop (if any) in E10 vehicles has been margin

The government is considering further easing the norms for setting up petrol pumps in the world's fastest-growing fuel market, in light of the evolving energy security paradigm and commitment to decarbonisation, according to an official order. The government had in 2019 relaxed the norms for setting up petrol pumps, opening the door for non-oil companies to enter the fuel retailing business. At that time, companies with a net worth of Rs 250 crore were permitted to sell petrol and diesel, provided they committed to setting up infrastructure for at least one new-generation alternative fuel, such as CNG, LNG, biofuels, or EV charging, within three years of beginning their operations. For companies wanting to sell petrol and diesel to retail and bulk consumers, the networth criteria was set at Rs 500 crore. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has now constituted an expert committee to review the 2019 guidelines for granting authorisation to market transportation fuels. The expe

The Indian government will introduce norms for 27% ethanol blending in petrol by the end of August as part of efforts to cut fuel imports and reduce pollution

Vietnam will ban fossil-fuel motorcycles and mopeds in the heart of the capital, Hanoi, starting July 2026, as part of a nationwide effort to curb air pollution, state media reported. The directive issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh applies to the area inside and along the main ring road that encircles the centre of Hanoi. The local government has been tasked with phasing out the two-wheelers by the deadline. Like the rest of Vietnam, motorcycles are the main mode of transport for most of Hanoi's 8 million residents. The city has nearly 7 million motorcycles and just over a million cars. But as incomes rise and more people switch to private vehicles, air pollution from traffic has become a growing concern. Hanoi is often enveloped in thick smog, ranking among the most polluted cities worldwide. Vietnam also wants to switch from fossil-fuel to electric vehicles to cut pollution and tackle climate change. Local EV maker VinFast is leading the shift by holding nearly a

Delhi Environment Minister says overage vehicle fuel ban is unfeasible due to flawed ANPR systems and citizen discontent; High Court to hear petrol dealers' plea in September

The new strategic oil reserves in Bikaner, Mangalore and Bina will boost emergency stockpiles, enhance energy security and aid India's push for International Energy Agency membership

Under the strategic alliance, ATGL fuel stations will retail Jio-bp's high-performance petrol and diesel, while Jio-bp outlets will host ATGL's CNG dispensing units within its geographical areas

Early rains in several parts of the country dampened fuel consumption in June, with diesel slipping to negative territory again after two months of growth, according to provisional industry data. After two months of robust consumption growth, petrol demand slowed to 2.3 per cent to 1.4 million tonnes in the first half of June, sales data of three state-owned fuel retailers, which control about 90 per cent of the market, showed. Petrol demand had risen by close to 9 per cent in May. Diesel saw a 4.8 per cent decline in consumption at 3.26 million tonnes between June 1 and June 15. The demand for India's most used fuel has rebounded since April - rising by nearly 4 per cent in April and 2 per cent in the following month. Diesel, the lifeline of transport and rural agri economy, saw a just 2 per cent growth in demand in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, witnessing a negative growth in most months. Industry officials said early arrival of rains led to reduced demand in irrigation

OMCs hold 45 days inventory priced at around $75 per barrel crude

The excise duty on petrol was increased to Rs 13 per litre and that on diesel to Rs 10, according to an official order

Congress MP Manish Tewari slams Centre over high fuel prices despite crude oil plunge; questions if dynamic pricing is only a one-way street as excise duty is hiked

After HPCL, the government headhunter struggled to find a suitable candidate for the top job at Bharat Petroleum, as most applicants were narrow specialists lacking multidisciplinary experience needed to run a large organisation. The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) last month interviewed a dozen candidates including BPCL Director (Finance) Vetsa Ramakrishna Gupta and its Director (Refineries) S Khanna but found none suitable for the job of chairman and managing director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), according to a PESB order. It advised the administrative ministry "to choose an appropriate course of further action for selection including the search cum selection committee," according to the order. Incumbent G Krishnakumar superannuates as chairman and managing director of BPCL on April 30 this year. BPCL is the fourth company in the oil sector where PESB couldn't find a suitable candidate since 2021. PESB in May 2023 did not make any recommendation for the to