The Centre on Thursday clarified that premium petrol sold by state-owned fuel retailers will continue to be supplied without ethanol blending. It also said there is no proposal either to increase ethanol content in petrol beyond 20 per cent or to bring back E0 and E10 petrol.
Responding to questions in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said premium petrol variants such as Indian Oil’s XP100, Hindustan Petroleum’s poWer100 and Bharat Petroleum’s Speed100 would continue to remain ethanol-free. These fuels are designed for specialised performance and contain additives that differentiate them from regular petrol.
The minister said premium fuel accounts for only around 0.5 per cent of the country’s total petrol
sales. These variants are sold at select fuel stations and are priced at around Rs 160 per litre, compared to Rs 102.12 per litre for regular E20 petrol.
No Decision Yet On Blending Beyond E20
The government said it has not taken any decision to increase ethanol blending beyond the current 20 per cent level.
According to Gopi, any move to raise the blending percentage would be considered only after detailed scientific studies, technical assessments and consultations with automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies and research institutions.
He added that all public and private fuel retailers have been directed to supply petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme across all states and Union Territories. Ethanol-blended petrol with a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 has been notified from April 1, 2026.
No Widespread Complaints Over E20 Fuel
The minister told Parliament that the government has not received any widespread or verified complaints from vehicle manufacturers, automobile associations or consumer organisations regarding the use of E20 petrol.
He said laboratory tests, field trials and operational data have not shown any significant impact on engine durability, vehicle performance or lifespan because of the higher ethanol blend.
According to the government, more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over three crore petrol cars are already operating on higher ethanol blends without verified evidence of widespread engine failures linked to E20 fuel.
No Proposal To Bring Back E0 Or E10 Petrol
The Centre also ruled out restoring E0 (petrol without ethanol) or E10 (10 per cent ethanol blend), saying there is no such proposal under consideration.
Gopi said maintaining separate nationwide supply chains for E0, E10 and E20 petrol across more than one lakh fuel stations would increase logistics, storage and handling costs. He added that the government’s focus is on cleaner fuels, energy security, environmental sustainability and supporting farmers through ethanol production.
“Having been scientifically validated and accepted by the automobile industry after extensive testing, there is no proposal to revert to E0/E10 petrol,” Gopi said.
He further stated that once a cleaner and scientifically validated fuel has been adopted, public policy should move towards better technology rather than reverting to an older standard.
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