Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday dismissed reports of customer problems with E20 fuel as a "misrepresentation" and emphasized that the transition to a higher E25 blend will proceed only after comprehensive tests and discussions with automakers.
Puri Rejects Controversy Around E20 Fuel
Speaking in New Delhi, Puri stated that both automobile manufacturers and consumers have accepted E20 blended petrol. "The automobile manufacturers, as well as the people who service these vehicles, all say there is no difficulty. Why this sudden interest?" he said. "It is a misrepresentation and I don't want to use stronger words."
The Minister noted that India has been gradually increasing ethanol blending over the years. "We have been using E15 for the last three and a half years. We have been on E20 since April of last year. From April 2025 to April 2026, it has already been one year, and we are now another five months beyond that," he explained.
Widespread Adoption of Ethanol Blended Fuel
According to Puri, approximately 20 crore two-wheelers and 20 lakh four-wheelers are currently running on ethanol-blended petrol. "The car manufacturers are comfortable with E20. Each one of them has made a statement to that effect. Consumers also appreciate the product," he added, reinforcing the government's confidence in the fuel's acceptance.
Government's Cautious Approach to E25
Addressing calls to move to E25, Puri clarified that the government is not rushing the decision. "If someone is suggesting E25, we have made it clear that we are conducting tests. Those tests will take time. Once the reports are available, we will evaluate them. Then we will discuss the findings with the stakeholders and the automobile manufacturers. After all, I neither manufacture the cars nor the fuel," he said.
The Minister also provided an update on E85 rollout, noting that it has only just begun. "We have only begun the rollout of E85, and that rollout will take some time because new petrol pumps and related infrastructure need to be put in place," he stated.
National Ethanol Blending Targets
The government is targeting 20 percent ethanol blending nationwide under its Ethanol Blended Petrol programme, aimed at reducing import dependence and supporting farmers. Puri maintained that the transition is being implemented in phases, based on technical data and industry feedback.
