New Delhi: The government will finalise standards for 27 percent ethanol blending in petrol by the end of August, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. India had launched 20 percent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) in 2023, and according to the minister, the country has already met that target. “India has already achieved its target of 20 percent ethanol blending. In Brazil, the ethanol blend in gasoline is 27 percent,” Gadkari said while addressing an event in the capital.
Although current vehicle engines can operate on E20 with minor changes to address issues such as corrosion, India does not yet have a regulatory framework for a higher ethanol mix. “Presently, India does not have standard norms for the E27 fuel... the norms for E27 will be finalised before August-end,” Gadkari added.
India relies heavily on fossil fuel imports, meeting 85 percent of its crude oil demand from overseas. “We import fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore, which is also causing pollution... so diversifying agriculture towards the energy and power sector is the need of the hour,” he said.
The use of ethanol — derived from sugarcane, broken rice, and other agricultural produce — is a key part of the government’s strategy to cut its oil import bill and promote cleaner fuels. India is the third-largest oil consumer globally.
Gadkari also highlighted the industry’s readiness to transition to higher blends, stating that 11 automobile manufacturers have developed vehicles compatible with flex-fuel engines. “India is food surplus and there is a need to protect the interests of farmers,” he said.
India had achieved its previous milestone — 10 percent average ethanol blending in petrol — in June 2022, several months ahead of the original target date of November 2022.