IndiaPosted at: Oct 27 2026 4:46PM

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on Tuesday, said the government has no immediate plans to raise ethanol blending in petrol beyond the existing 20% level, even as India expands its biofuel ecosystem to reduce dependence on imported crude oil.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 29th Energy Technology and Innovation Meet in South Goa, Puri dismissed concerns surrounding E20 petrol, describing the criticism of the fuel as a "contrived narrative". He alleged that misleading information was being circulated about the impact of ethanol-blended petrol on vehicles.
The government had set a target of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol, and there is currently no proposal to increase the proportion further, Puri said in response to a question on the issue.
Addressing reports of vehicle breakdowns allegedly linked to E20 fuel, the minister referred to social media posts claiming that vehicles had stopped functioning. He said vehicles designed to comply with E20 fuel requirements were intended to operate on the blend, while some older models manufactured before 2003 had encountered problems.
Puri also highlighted the economic benefits of the ethanol blending programme, claiming that the introduction of E20 petrol had helped the Centre save Rs 1.6 lakh crore, of which Rs 1.4 lakh crore had gone to farmers.
He said the initiative had expanded the role of farmers in the energy sector, describing the transition from Annadata (provider of food) to Urjadata (provider of energy).
On complaints about the quality of blended fuel, the minister suggested that transportation practices could have contributed to some of the reported issues, noting that tankers used to carry ethanol-blended fuel had also been employed to transport other substances.
Responding to allegations that E20 petrol causes engine damage, Puri said an automobile manufacturer had filed a case against an individual who had made such a claim. He argued that widespread engine damage would have been evident given the large number of vehicles visiting fuel stations daily.
The minister's remarks come a day after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, permitting flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on blends containing up to 100% ethanol.
Unlike conventional petrol vehicles designed for specified ethanol concentrations, flex-fuel vehicles can operate on higher blends, including E85, which contains 85% ethanol, and E100, which is nearly pure ethanol. Automakers such as Toyota Motor Corporation, Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor Company are developing flex-fuel vehicle technologies for the Indian market as the country seeks to lower its fossil fuel import bill.
The three-day Energy Technology and Innovation Meet, inaugurated at Betul village in South Goa, is being organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. This year's theme is "Accelerating Energy Innovation From Research to Commercialisation".
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