Page 2 - Ethanol Blending

Without ethanol blending, petrol would cost ₹125 per litre, says govt

The government defended its ethanol blending programme, saying it shielded consumers from global oil price shocks and rejected claims of taxpayer-funded subsidies

Mentioning ethanol levels not 'considered necessary' on receipts: Gadkari

Road Transport Minister says E20 is the only petrol sold at retail outlets nationwide, making separate display of ethanol blending levels unnecessary

E20 petrol may bring down vehicle mileage by up to 6%: Nitin Gadkari

Petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol (E20) can reduce fuel economy by 2 to 6 per cent depending on the vehicle category and vintage, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed Parliament on Thursday. The Union Minister, however, argued that tests for engine durability on a dynamometer and on-road vehicle tests have not shown any failures due to E20. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Gadkari said E20 fuel provides better acceleration, improved ride quality and approximately 30 per cent lower carbon emissions compared to E10 fuel. Gadkari said a study to evaluate the effect of E20 on BS-III, BS-IV and BS-VI E10 (Gasoline) two-wheelers and four-wheelers was carried out jointly by ARAI, SIAM and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL). He said the study comprised of standard testing as per the respective certification requirements & customized test protocols developed along with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). "The fuel efficiency of vehicles may be ...

100-octane premium petrol sales double amid E20 vehicle damage concerns

Demand for 100-octane petrol has surged, particularly in Delhi, as social media claims over E20-related vehicle damage prompt more motorists to switch fuels

Rice diversion for ethanol not fuelling food inflation, says govt

The Centre said surplus rice diverted for ethanol is allocated only after meeting food security needs and buffer stock norms, while maize output remains adequate for all uses

Some BS-III vehicles may need rubber parts replaced for E20, says Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari said only some BS-III vehicles made before 2016 may need rubber parts and gaskets replaced when operated on E20 petrol, with no major impact on performance

Govt says no assessment of share of vehicles compatible with E20 petrol

The government on Monday said it has not assessed the proportion of vehicles in the country that are fully compatible with E20 petrol, but maintained that extensive studies and field trials have found the fuel to be safe for use under prescribed standards. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said, "Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) have informed that no such assessment has been done by them" of the percentage of vehicles currently compatible with E20 fuel (petrol doped with 20 per cent ethanol). The minister said the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme had been implemented through a phased and scientifically validated process involving NITI Aayog, automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) and other technical institutions. He said laboratory studies

No proposal to revert to ethanol-free or E10 petrol, says MoS Suresh Gopi

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

Ubharta Purvanchal conclave: Eastern UP's untapped mine lies above the soil

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

No decision taken yet to raise ethanol blending beyond current 20%: MoS

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 ...

Beyond petrol blending: How ethanol is being used across the world

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

Centre tells SC it's working on fair solution in ethanol allocation dispute

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

E20 fuel damage case: Raipur consumer court orders Maruti to replace car

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.

Despite adequate domestic output, India continues to import ethanol from US

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

Govt explains E20 pricing, but transparency and tax relief remain unclear

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

Don't want E20 fuel? Buy 100% petrol, but pay more: Nitin Gadkari

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 file FIR over posts targeting Gadkari amid ethanol row

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

IIT Kanpur research finds no evidence of E20 damaging vehicle engines

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 ...

Kejriwal seeks meeting with PM over E20 fuel; demands pure petrol option

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 not a single E20-related complaint reported by dealers

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