No Decision Yet on Raising Ethanol Blending Beyond 20%: Govt Tells Parliament

New Delhi, Jul 23 (KNN) The Government has said that no decision has been taken to increase ethanol blending with petrol beyond 20 percent. Any future decision on higher blending levels will be based on scientific and technical studies and consultations with automobile manufacturers, Oil Marketing Companies and research institutions.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

E85 fuel, containing 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petrol, has been introduced exclusively for Flex Fuel Vehicles designed and certified for its use and does not change the nationwide base ethanol blending level.

Average ethanol blending in petrol increased from around 12 percent in 2022-23 to 14.6 percent in 2023-24, 19.2 percent in 2024-25 and 20 percent during November 2025-June 2026.

The Government said E20 fuel has undergone scientific studies, field validation and testing involving automobile manufacturers, Oil Marketing Companies, ARAI, SIAM, IIP and other technical institutions. 

It also stated that more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 3 crore petrol cars have operated on ethanol-blended petrol without verified evidence of widespread engine failures attributable to ethanol blending.

The transition to E20 has resulted in savings of over Rs 1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substitution of nearly 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, reduction of around 952 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions and transfer of over Rs 1.66 lakh crore to farmers, according to the Government.

(KNN Bureau)