Government says E20 blending kept petrol from reaching ₹125 a litre
The government told Parliament ethanol blending helped cushion petrol prices during the West Asia crisis, while acknowledging a 2%-6% mileage drop in vehicles designed for E10 fuel. It cited forex savings, lower crude imports and additional farmer income as programme gains.
The government defended India’s E20 ethanol-blending programme, saying it limited petrol prices during the West Asia crisis, with no verified widespread engine failures. It acknowledged a 2%-6% mileage impact for E10-designed vehicles while citing import, forex and farmer-income benefits.
Why this matters
The statement follows a recent government signal that ethanol blending contained petrol prices but could reduce mileage in older vehicles, and aligns with India’s planned 1% SAF blending target for international flights in 2027.
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