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Hardeep Singh Puri Clears Air on Ethanol-Blended Fuel Rollout. (Image: Internet)
New Delhi: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday reaffirmed the Centre's support for ethanol-blended petrol, stating that E20 fuel has been safely used by millions of vehicles across the country. He also clarified that the government has not taken any decision on introducing E25 petrol and will move forward only after scientific evaluations and consultations with industry stakeholders.
Speaking in New Delhi, Puri said nearly 20 crore two-wheelers and around 20 lakh four-wheelers are already running on ethanol-blended fuel without any reported technical problems.
Questioning concerns surrounding the fuel, he noted that India had been using E15 petrol for more than three years before transitioning to E20. According to the minister, the nationwide rollout of E20 began in April 2025 and has continued without major issues.
Addressing speculation over a possible shift to E25 petrol, Puri said the government is conducting detailed tests before making any policy decision.
He said the findings would be examined carefully and discussed with automobile manufacturers and other stakeholders before any further steps are considered. The minister stressed that technical inputs from vehicle manufacturers would remain central to the decision-making process.
Puri also said automobile companies have expressed confidence in E20 fuel, while consumers have generally responded positively to its use.
The minister said the rollout of E85 fuel has only recently begun and will require additional infrastructure, including dedicated fuel stations, before it becomes widely available across the country.
Puri's remarks came hours after Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari defended E20 petrol during an event in New Delhi. Gadkari said there had been no verified cases of vehicles developing problems because of E20 fuel and alleged that misinformation was being spread about higher ethanol blends.
India has already achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. Ethanol, produced from agricultural sources such as sugarcane, corn and rice, is being promoted as a cleaner alternative to conventional fuel to reduce crude oil imports and lower carbon emissions.
