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Informist, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – State-owned oil marketing companies procured 8.20 billion litres of ethanol in the ten months from November, according to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell. During Nov-Aug, the companies achieved 19.1% cumulative ethanol blending with petrol. In August, the companies procured 978 million litres of ethanol and achieved 19.8% blending, the data showed.

 

The government has been blending ethanol in petrol to reduce dependence on crude oil imports, promote green mobility, and support the rural economy. With the 20% ethanol blending target for the ethanol year 2025-26 (Nov-Oct) nearly achieved, the government said it was considering gradually raising the ethanol mix in petrol in the coming years.

 

However, the government now appears to be cautious about raising blending mandates amid criticism that 20% ethanol-blended petrol, categorised as E20, reduces fuel efficiency, increases vehicle maintenance costs, and risks food security. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had hinted Tuesday at a reassessment of a proposal to raise the ethanol blending percentage in petrol.

 

"We will have to assess where we have to go," media reports quoted Puri as saying. "All the stories you hear that we are now going to do another leapfrog, etc., we haven't come to that conclusion." An inter-ministerial committee is currently studying the possibilities of ethanol blending beyond 20% in petrol.

 

Meanwhile, Puri hit out at critics of E20 fuel, who have raised concerns over the impact on older engines. "All the stories you hear about biofuels being harmful for engines, there's a lot of 'BS'-–'B' capital, 'S' capital," Puri quipped.

 

An inter-ministerial committee report on biofuels has said using 20% ethanol-blended petrol results in a "marginal reduction" in fuel efficiency for four-wheelers designed for E10, or 10% ethanol-blended petrol, and recalibrated for E20.  End

 

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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