Will India raise ethanol blending in petrol beyond 20%? What state minister Suresh Gopi said
The government has not taken any decision to increase ethanol mix in petrol beyond the current 20% level or to introduce ethanol in diesel for
The government has not taken any decision to increase ethanol mix in petrol beyond the current 20% level or to introduce ethanol in diesel for commercial use, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Any move to raise the blending percentage will be considered only after detailed scientific studies and discussions with all key stakeholders, he added. “At present, no decision has been taken by the Government to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond 20% or to introduce ethanol blending in diesel for commercial use. Any future decision, if considered, will be based on comprehensive scientific evaluation, vehicle compatibility studies, stakeholder consultations and the availability of adequate domestic production capacity,” Gopi said in a written reply to a question.
India meets 20% ethanol goal ahead of time In response to a separate question, Gopi also said that India has achieved the 20% ethanol blending target five years ahead of schedule, with average blending rising from about 1.53% in 2013-14 to 20% in the 2025-26 supply year, after more than two decades of phased rollout. Also Read | Maruti to challenge Raipur consumer court order for damaged car replacement Since 2014-15, he said, the programme has led to foreign exchange savings of over ₹1.97 lakh crore, substituted nearly 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, reduced around 952 lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, and generated more than ₹1.66 lakh crore in additional farmer income.
No complaints about ethanol-blended petrol The state minister also said that the government has not received any widespread or substantiated complaints linking E20 (20% ethanol-blended) petrol to engine failures, fuel pump issues, corrosion, water contamination or other vehicle performance problems, asserting that extensive scientific studies have found the fuel safe for use under prescribed standards. Also Read | E20 petrol row: Raipur consumer court asks Maruti Suzuki to replace Grand Vitara The government said it has "not received any widespread or substantiated complaints from vehicle manufacturers, automobile associations or consumer organisations regarding engine failure, fuel pump issues, corrosion, water contamination or other performance issues attributable to E20 fuel." Any mileage loss in older, E10-designed vehicles is "generally marginal," at around 3-5%, he said, while E20 offers higher octane and cleaner combustion.
The BriefWire