Hardeep Puri explains why India has among world's cheapest petrol, spells out country's fuel strategy
- On Friday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas acknowledged E20 petrol may reduce fuel economy by 3-5% in some vehicles, but argued the impact is outweighed by benefits including higher octane, cleaner emissions, and reduced dependence on imported crude oil.
- India's ethanol blending initiative dates back to pilot projects launched in 2001, with 5% blending introduced by 2006 and 10% achieved in 2022, before reaching 20% during the 2025-26 supply year after expanding feedstocks under the National Policy on Biofuels.
- Field data from Maruti Suzuki, which serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during FY 2025-26 including 1.5 crore older non-certified vehicles, reported no E20-related corrosion or damage; the Ministry labeled social media reports of engine failures as "misinformation" unsupported by scientific evidence.
- Rejecting demands for multiple fuel grades, the Ministry said maintaining parallel supply chains for pure petrol, E10 and E20 would increase logistics costs and complicate distribution across India's network of more than 100,000 retail outlets.
- The ethanol program has saved more than 1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014-15, with the Ministry asserting that blending insulates one-fifth of fuel consumption from volatile global crude prices ranging between $68 and $128.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Why isn't E20 cheaper? Govt explains price, mileage and engine concerns
Amid growing concerns over E20 petrol's impact on older vehicles, the Centre has issued a detailed clarification addressing questions on mileage, engine safety, pricing, ethanol blending and the absence of pure petrol, while defending the nationwide fuel policy.
Centre Admits E20 Petrol May Reduce Fuel Economy by Up to 5%
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said E20 was a \"cleaner, higher-quality and more efficient fuel\" than E10 or pure petrol and had been rolled out only after years of scientific testing, consultations with automobile manufacturers and the expansion of domestic ethanol production
Govt assures E20 fuel safe for older vehicles, dismisses engine damage fears
New Delhi, Jul 10: Amid growing concerns over the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Friday sought to allay fears over its impact on older vehicles, asserting that the fuel is safe, scientifically validated and does not damage engines or significantly reduce vehicle life. In a detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), the ministry said reports circulating on social media about E20 causing engi…
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