Government Clarifies Stance on E20 Petrol and Ethanol Blending in Rajya Sabha

Responding to queries in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi addressed concerns surrounding E20 petrol and ethanol blending, clarifying that the government has no current plans to push ethanol levels beyond 20 percent.

Key Highlights:
- No Engine Damage Evidence: The government stated that extensive lab tests, field trials, and real-world data have shown no substantial or widespread complaints regarding engine damage, fuel pump corrosion, or drop in mileage due to E20 petrol across millions of two-wheelers and cars running on higher blends over the past few years.
- Scientific Implementation: The ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) program has been implemented in a phased, scientific manner in collaboration with institutions like ARAI, SIAM, and oil marketing companies. India achieved its 20% blending target ahead of schedule.
- Quality Checks: Oil marketing companies have conducted over 30,000 quality checks across petrol pumps nationwide recently to prevent adulteration and ensure compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms.
- Global Context: Highlighting that ethanol has been used globally for over a century, the government reiterated that any future expansion beyond E20 will strictly rely on scientific research and comprehensive automotive testing.