New Delhi: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has dismissed concerns over 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20), calling reports of consumer problems with the fuel a "misrepresentation."
Puri said both automobile manufacturers and vehicle service providers have found no major issues with E20, while consumers have also accepted the fuel.
"The automobile manufacturers, as well as the people who service these vehicles, all say there is no difficulty. Why this sudden interest? It is a misrepresentation and I don't want to use stronger words," he said.
Defending India's ethanol roadmap, Puri said the country had followed a gradual path, using E15 for over three years before transitioning to E20 in April 2025. He added that around 20 crore two-wheelers and 20 lakh four-wheelers are currently running on ethanol-blended petrol.
Addressing demands for a faster transition to E25, the minister said the government would not rush the decision and would wait for technical assessments before moving ahead.
The government has been pushing ethanol blending as part of its Ethanol Blended Petrol program to reduce India's dependence on crude oil imports and provide an additional market for farmers.
However, the push has sparked a massive backlash, particularly from owners of petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023. They have reported worsening fuel efficiency, rising maintenance issues, and increased wear and tear.
