Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that bio-ethanol will be the fuel of the future during NDTV’s green and renewable energy summit on Monday. His remarks follow growing public concern over the government’s E20 plan, which mandates blending 20% ethanol with petrol by 2025-26. Gadkari noted that ethanol use has helped reduce pollution and supports India’s goal to lower its carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. He emphasized that India, one of the world’s largest economies, ranks third globally in motor vehicles per capita, behind only China and the US.
The ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) programme has seen blending rates rise from 12.06% in 2022-23 to over 20% by early 2025. However, some car owners, especially those with older vehicles, have expressed fears that E20 could harm their engines. One user even threatened legal action, calling the policy “outright fraud.”
The Petroleum Ministry countered these claims, stating such concerns lack scientific basis. While acknowledging a slight drop in mileage—1-2% for E10-tuned vehicles and up to 6% for others—it assured safety standards are in place. The initiative has saved Rs 1.4 lakh crore in imports and benefited farmers by Rs 1.2 lakh crore.
