No Plans to Increase Ethanol Blend in Petrol Beyond 20%, Says Hardeep Puri
Union Minister Hardeep Puri confirms no plans to raise ethanol blend in petrol beyond 20% amid misinformation concerns.
Betul, October 27 (Daily Kiran) : Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced on October 27 in Betul that the central government has no plans to increase the current ethanol blend limit of 20% in petrol. Speaking at the inauguration of the 29th Energy Technology and Innovation Conference, Puri addressed concerns over misinformation regarding biofuels.
Responding to a question, Puri clarified, “As far as biofuels are concerned, yes, the target was a 20% ethanol blend in petrol, and there are currently no plans to exceed that limit.” He emphasized that misleading information about E20, which consists of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, is being circulated intentionally.
The government is promoting ethanol-blended petrol as part of a strategy to reduce reliance on imported crude oil, which is a significant contributor to the country’s current account deficit. The introduction of E20 fuel has already commenced in the country, and Puri noted that it is compatible with vehicles, although older models manufactured before 2003 may face some issues.
He highlighted that the implementation of E20 has led to savings of ₹1.6 lakh crore for the country, with ₹1.4 lakh crore benefiting farmers. “Farmers have transitioned from being mere food producers to energy providers,” Puri stated.
When asked about issues reported by users of E20 fuel, Puri mentioned that there were transportation problems related to the mixed fuel. He also addressed claims of engine failures, stating that a vehicle manufacturer has filed a case against an individual who made such allegations. Puri dismissed the spread of misleading information as a “fabricated story,” asserting that if engines were failing, one would see vehicles broken down everywhere.
On October 26, the Ministry of Road Transport issued a notification amending the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, allowing flex-fuel vehicles that can run on E100 (approximately 100% ethanol) to operate.
