The Central Government has clarified that premium petrol sold by public sector oil companies will continue to remain ethanol-free, while dismissing speculation about the return of E0 and E10 petrol. The government also stated that there is currently no proposal to increase ethanol blending beyond 20% (E20), reaffirming its commitment to cleaner and scientifically validated fuels.
The clarification came through a written reply in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi.
Premium Petrol Like XP100, Speed100 to Remain Ethanol-Free
According to the government, premium fuel variants including:
Indian Oil XP100
HPCL poWer100
BPCL Speed100
will continue to be sold without ethanol blending.
These fuels contain specialized performance-enhancing additives and account for only around 0.5% of India's total petrol sales. Premium petrol is priced at nearly ₹160 per litre, while regular E20 petrol costs around ₹102.12 per litre.
Government Has No Plan to Increase Ethanol Blend Beyond E20
The government clarified that no decision has been taken to introduce E30 or higher ethanol blends.
If such a proposal is considered in the future, it will only proceed after:
Scientific and technical evaluation
Vehicle compatibility studies
Consultations with automobile manufacturers
Discussions with oil marketing companies
Inputs from research institutions
Government's Stand on E20 Petrol
The Centre maintained that E20 petrol has not created any widespread issues.
According to the government:
No major complaints have been received regarding E20 fuel.
Automobile manufacturers have not raised significant objections.
Laboratory testing found no serious impact on engine durability.
Field trials showed no major decline in vehicle performance.
Over 20 crore two-wheelers are already running on E20-compatible fuel.
More than 3 crore petrol cars are using higher ethanol-blended fuel.
No verified evidence links E20 with large-scale engine failures.
Why E0 and E10 Petrol Will Not Return
The government ruled out bringing back E0 (0% ethanol) and E10 (10% ethanol) petrol.
According to the Petroleum Ministry:
E20 petrol is already available at over one lakh fuel stations across India.
Maintaining separate supplies of E0, E10 and E20 would significantly increase storage, transportation and logistics costs.
The current fuel policy focuses on improving energy security, reducing crude oil imports, supporting farmers, and lowering emissions.
Future Fuel Policy
The Centre reiterated that India's fuel roadmap aims to move towards cleaner, scientifically tested fuels rather than reverting to older standards.
The government emphasized that once a superior fuel has been validated scientifically and accepted by the automobile industry, policy should continue moving forward instead of returning to outdated fuel standards.
Gold Price Today: Gold Falls ₹678 to ₹1.45 Lakh, Down ₹31,516 from Record High; Silver Slips ₹2,980
Gold Price Today: Gold and silver prices extended their decline on July 23, according to data rel
Many taxpayers believe that Form 16 contains everything required to file an Income Tax Return (IT
The iconic black leather jacket worn by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been auctioned for approximat
Gold and silver prices moved higher on July 21, extending the volatility seen in the precious met
Spain are once again kings of world football. La Roja defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0
India could soon witness one of the biggest transformations in its currency system as the Reserve
The Tamil Nadu government is set to present its first full Agriculture Budget on August 6, 2026,
Apple has reclaimed the title of the world's most valuable publicly traded company, overtaking AI
ICICI Bank Shares Set to Rally After Q1 Results; Brokerages Raise Target Price, See Strong Upside
Shares of ICICI Bank Ltd. gained more than 1% after the private sector lender reported stronger-t
Apple Overtakes Nvidia to Reclaim World's Most Valuable Company, Biggest Tech Shake-Up of 2026
In a major development for the global technology industry, Apple has reclaimed the title of the w
