Ethanol Lessons for India From Brazil: Transition Took Decades of Building Trust, Offering Options
Brazil’s flex-fuel model lets drivers choose between petrol and ethanol, while India’s default E20 policy has drawn mileage concerns and calls for review.
- On Friday, the Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transporters and Tour Operators Association announced a protest march to Parliament on August 4 against mandatory E20 fuel, with association president Sanjay Samrat citing reduced efficiency and maintenance issues for older vehicles.
- The Indian government made E20 the default fuel across all fuel stations under its ethanol blending programme, with public sector oil marketing companies beginning sales from February 6, 2023, after reaching 10% blending in 2022.
- One motorist reported fuel efficiency dropped from about 15 km per litre to around 11.5 km per litre, a decline of about 23%, while the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas acknowledged in March 2025 that E20 causes marginal efficiency reductions.
- The association demands an independent scientific review of the ethanol policy and a review of the 80-km-per-hour speed limit on tourist vehicles, calling on other taxi and truck unions to join the protest march next month.
- Brazilian bioenergy expert Augusto Horta Nogueira advised India to maintain E20 rather than pursue higher blends immediately, noting that Brazil's five-decade ethanol experience transcends accumulated learning across technology, logistics, regulation and taxation.
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12 Articles
The government said no decision has been taken yet on blending more than 20 percent ethanol with petrol. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi gave this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
No ethanol in premium petrol; no plans to restore E0/E10 petrol: Government
Premium petrol grades will continue without ethanol blending, the government stated. No decision has been made to increase ethanol blending beyond twenty percent. The government will not restore E0 or E10 petrol supply nationwide. Current E20 fuel has shown no widespread adverse engine impacts. Maintaining parallel fuel supply chains presents significant logistical challenges.
Govt says no decision taken about increasing ethanol-blending beyond 20%, says programme saved ₹1.97 lakh crore in forex
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas today highlighted the benefits of ethanol-blended petrol and clarified that so far, the government has not taken any decision about increasing ethanol-blending in petrol beyond current 20%.
Monsoon Session: Government says E20 is scientifically validated, performance-proven and driving India's energy security
During the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, a question was asked whether the Government has conducted any research/study on the quantity of water consumed in the production of one litre of ethanol used for blending. The Minister of State, MoPNG, said that the Government has adopted a balanced approach to the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, ensuring that water sustainability, food security and farmers’ interests remain paramount. Under…
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