No decision to raise ethanol blending beyond 20%; premium petrol ethanol-free
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Photo: IANS
New Delhi: Premium grades of petrol sold by state-run fuel retailers will continue to be supplied without ethanol blending, with the Union government stating that it has neither decided to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond 20 per cent nor plans to reintroduce E0 or E10 petrol.
In a written reply to questions in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said premium petrol variants such as Indian Oil Corporation's XP100, Hindustan Petroleum's poWer100 and Bharat Petroleum's Speed100 are exempt from ethanol blending because they are specialised fuels containing performance-enhancing additives. He noted that these premium fuels account for only around 0.5 per cent of the country's total petrol sales.
The minister pointed out that premium petrol is priced at around ₹160 per litre, compared with ₹102.12 per litre for regular petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol, according to media reports.
Gopi said any future decision to increase ethanol blending beyond 20 per cent would be taken only after comprehensive scientific and technical studies, along with consultations involving automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies and research institutions.
He also informed the House that both public and private fuel retailers have been instructed to supply petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol across all states and Union Territories under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme. Ethanol-blended motor spirit with a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 has been in effect since April 1, 2026.
Addressing concerns over vehicle performance, Gopi said the government had not received any widespread or substantiated complaints from automobile manufacturers, industry associations or consumer organisations regarding the use of E20 fuel.
According to the minister, laboratory tests, field trials and operational data have not indicated any widespread adverse impact on engine durability, vehicle performance or service life due to ethanol blending. He added that more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over three crore petrol cars have been operating on higher ethanol blends without verified evidence linking the fuel to widespread engine failures.