'Ethanol Blending Carefully Planned, Helped India Cut Crude Dependence During West Asia Crisis': Expert Defends E20 Rollout

Defending India's ethanol blending programme amid ongoing debate, industry expert Vartika Shukla on Friday said the rollout of E20 petrol was the result of a carefully planned, scientifically validated process and not an overnight policy decision.Addressing a press conference by industry experts on ethanol blending, Shukla said India has steadily increased ethanol blending in petrol from around 1.5 per cent in 2013-14 to achieving the 20 per cent (E20) target in 2025—five years ahead of schedule."This ethanol blending in petrol has not been done overnight. It is a measured, scientifically driven, step-by-step process," she said, adding that the programme was extensively discussed with stakeholders from 2018 onward and backed by scientific evidence,

rigorous vehicle testing and global best practices.

VIDEO | Delhi: In her opening remarks at the press conference by industry experts on ethanol, expert Vartika Shukla says, "This ethanol blending in petrol has been not done overnight. It is a measured, scientifically driven, step-by-step process. In 2013 and 2014, we were… pic.twitter.com/XLBMlVp4gW

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 4, 2026

Shukla noted that the initiative received support from the automotive industry and testing agencies, including the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), ensuring compatibility with vehicles while helping reduce carbon emissions.

'Reduction In India's Dependence On Imported Crude Oil'

Highlighting the programme's strategic benefits, expert Vartika Shukla, while citing the recent West Asia crisis, said diversification of feedstocks used for ethanol production has strengthened India's energy security by reducing dependence on imported crude oil."During the West Asia crisis, part of our vulnerability was reduced due to lower crude imports, equivalent to the 20 per cent gasoline made available to customers across the country," she said.

VIDEO | Delhi: At the E20 ethanol-petrol blended programme, expert Vartika Shukla says, "There has been diversification in the sources used to produce ethanol, which has helped reduce crude oil imports. During the West Asia crisis, part of our vulnerability was reduced due to… pic.twitter.com/7kmjMBbyUM

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 4, 2026

Shukla also pointed to data released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on several indicators concerning water usage in ethanol production, the value of ethanol used in blending, and the country's ethanol production capacity.Emphasising that ethanol blending is a globally accepted practice, she noted that countries such as Canada, the United States, Brazil, Paraguay and Germany have been using ethanol-blended fuels in varying proportions for several years to lower emissions and promote cleaner transportation.