Ethanol blending kept Delhi petrol near ₹94.77/litre versus estimated ₹125: ministry

The petroleum ministry says India’s E20 ethanol-blending programme cushioned consumers from crude-price spikes while reducing oil imports. It estimates ₹30/litre consumer savings, ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign-exchange savings and ₹1.66 lakh crore in direct payments to ethanol suppliers.

— Filed Sat, 1 Aug, 2026, 18:55 IST · Source ET Small Business · Updated

India’s petroleum ministry said ethanol blending shielded consumers from crude-price spikes, keeping Delhi petrol at ₹94.77 per litre versus an estimated ₹125 without blending. The programme has also reduced crude imports, generated foreign-exchange savings and supported farmers and distillers.

Why this matters

The claim follows ministry signals citing multi-year E20 trials and saying E20 use alone cannot void insurance claims, alongside its separate assertion that household PNG prices stayed stable as connections reached 1.70 crore.

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