Centre Rules Out E25 Petrol Launch Plans Amid Fuel Blend Speculation

The Centre has rejected reports suggesting that an E-25 petrol rollout is being planned, stating that no decision has been taken to increase ethanol blending beyond the existing E-20 level. Government sources said any move towards higher ethanol blending would depend on scientific studies, technical assessments and validation rather than speculation. The clarification comes amid growing public discussion over the impact of ethanol-blended petrol on vehicle performance, fuel efficiency and engine durability.

Officials said there is no need for concern regarding E-20 petrol, which has been in use in India for more than two-and-a-half years after extensive testing and evaluation. The transition to ethanol-blended fuel has been carried out gradually, beginning with E-15 blending in April 2023, followed by E-19 in April 2024 and E-20 from April 2025. According to government data, nearly 20 crore petrol-powered two-wheelers and around 20 lakh petrol-powered four-wheelers are already using ethanol-blended fuel across the country.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has previously issued a detailed clarification addressing concerns surrounding ethanol blending. The ministry stated that petrol containing up to 20 per cent ethanol is supported by scientific research, international experience and regulatory safeguards. Officials said the government has followed a phased approach to ensure that each stage of ethanol adoption is properly tested before implementation, adding that any future increase in blending levels would also undergo similar technical scrutiny.

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The government also addressed concerns related to water consumption and agricultural impact in ethanol production. Rejecting claims that producing one litre of ethanol requires thousands of litres of water, the ministry said only surplus rice, available after meeting national food security requirements, is diverted for ethanol manufacturing. It added that ethanol plants generally use around three to five litres of processed water per litre of ethanol and many facilities are adopting Zero Liquid Discharge systems to recycle and manage water efficiently.

Officials further said that maize, which now contributes a significant share of ethanol supplies under the blending programme, requires substantially less irrigation compared with water-intensive crops such as paddy. The Centre also dismissed claims that E-20 petrol is an untested fuel, pointing out that ethanol blending has been used internationally for decades in countries including the United States, Brazil, Canada, Thailand, Japan and several European nations. The government said future decisions on higher ethanol blends will be based on evidence, testing and technical recommendations.

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