Government Denies Plans to Introduce E-25 Petrol
Centre Says No Decision Beyond E-20; Future Ethanol Blending Will Be Based on Scientific Validation
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th July: The Centre has dismissed reports claiming it is planning to introduce E-25 petrol, clarifying that no decision has been taken to increase ethanol blending beyond the existing E-20 level.
Government sources termed the reports “baseless” and said any future increase in ethanol blending would be based solely on scientific validation. Officials said compatibility tests for E-25 are still underway across different vehicle categories, and no proposal has been approved.
The government said its ethanol blending programme has been implemented in phases, with E-15 introduced in April 2023, E-19 in April 2024, and E-20 from April 2025, following extensive testing and consultations with automobile manufacturers and oil marketing companies.
According to officials, nearly 20 crore petrol-powered two-wheelers and 20 lakh petrol cars are already running on ethanol-blended fuel without major issues. They added that any future decision on higher blending levels would depend on studies covering engine performance, vehicle safety, fuel efficiency and durability.
The government said the ethanol programme is aimed at reducing India’s dependence on imported crude oil while providing additional income opportunities for farmers through ethanol production.
