Page 2 - Ethanol Blending

Congress workers detained during protest over E20 fuel near Gadkari's home

Youth Congress workers held a protest in Nagpur on Monday on the issue of E20 fuel and attempted to march to the residence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in order to 'gherao' it, but were stopped by the police, resulting in several participants being detained. The 'morcha' was held from Chitnivis Park Square in Mahal here till Gadkari's private residence in the same area, with Youth Congress workers shouting slogans about the unviability of E20 fuel. There was heavy deployment of police personnel near the Union minister's house along with barricades on the route, though protesters tried to climb over them to proceed. Several Congress workers were detained, police officials said. The Congress has been targeting Gadkari on the issue of E20 fuel claiming that his reply in Parliament on July 29 on the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol raises more questions than it answers. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Monday said Gadkari claims E20 has been rolled out after years of ...

E20 debate shifts into high gear amid protests and political heat

The AAP plans a march to the Prime Minister's residence tomorrow as opposition parties step up protests against blended petrol, Archis Mohan writes

Tehseen Poonawalla alleges house arrest ahead of march against E20 policy

Activist Tehseen Poonawalla on Saturday alleged that he was placed under house arrest, without any written order, in Greater Kailash by the Delhi Police ahead of his proposed solo march and hunger strike against the BJP-led Centre's E20 fuel policy. Poonawalla had announced on July 27 that he would walk alone from APJ Abdul Kalam Marg to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg - the site where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated - and observe a day-long hunger strike on Friday against the policy. Sharing several videos on his X account, Poonawalla claimed that around 9.30 am, about half an hour before he was scheduled to leave for the march, several Delhi Police personnel, including women officers, arrived at his house and stopped him from stepping out. He said that the police neither showed him any order nor provided any documents for detaining him. Poonawala further alleged that officers told him they were preventing him from leaving because thousands of people were expected to join the ..

Kejriwal demands choice between E20, pure petrol; announces march on Aug 4

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday demanded the government give the option to choose between pure petrol and E20 at fuel pumps and announced a march to the prime minister's residence on August 4 to submit petitions. Addressing a town hall style meeting on E20 fuel at the Constitution Club of India here, Kejriwal said he would collect petitions at noon on Monday and lead a march to Narendra Modi's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg with around 100 people. Kejriwal demanded that consumers be allowed to choose between E20 and regular petrol at fuel stations, and demanded lower prices for E20 mixed petrol, and a cut in petrol prices. The former Delhi chief minister also urged the government to make public the report that it cited to claim that E20 does not damage vehicles. "The Centre says studies have been conducted and E20 does not harm vehicles. I want them to share that report," he said. People from across states attended the event and shared their ...

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