Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said motorists who prefer not to use ethanol-blended petrol will still have the option of purchasing 100% petrol, though at a higher cost, as he strongly defended the Centre's ethanol-blending initiative against criticism surrounding E20 fuel.
In an interview with The Times of India, Gadkari rejected claims that E20 petrol harms vehicle engines, describing them as misinformation and asserting that the government has not received any complaints related to engine damage.
Responding to a question on whether E10 petrol could be sold alongside E20 at fuel stations, the minister said India had already reached its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending.
“How is it possible when we have achieved 20% ethanol blending, and E20 fuel is available at every fuel station in the country? People who do not want ethanol-blended fuel can go for 100% petrol, but they will have to pay more," he said, while speaking to TOI.
Asked if consumers would eventually have access to multiple ethanol-blended fuel options at petrol pumps, Gadkari said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Petroleum Ministry.
“It won’t be appropriate for me to comment as it is for the petroleum ministry to decide. At some petrol pumps people have the option to buy E85 (85% ethanol blended petrol) for use in flex fuel vehicles (FFVs). Over half a dozen vehicle manufacturers are ready to launch such vehicles. E85 costs less than E20. So, people have a choice," he said.
Addressing criticism of the government's ethanol policy, Gadkari alleged that the campaign against E20 was politically driven and aimed at both him and the Centre.
“The campaign is politically motivated. Certain people are targeting me and the government. There is also misinformation about E20 fuel damaging engines. All E10-compliant vehicles are fit for using E20 fuel. There have been no complaints so far about the fuel damaging the engine," he added, while speaking to TOI.
The minister said automobile manufacturers support the use of E20 and noted that the absence of complaints from consumers reinforced the government's position.
“Maruti Suzuki has publicly stated so. Auto manufacturers offer guarantees on vehicles. There are people in your office who are using two-wheelers and petrol cars, how many have faced a problem? A few days ago, I had asked people to write to my ministry in case they are facing any problems with their vehicles. There has been no complaint so far," he said.
While acknowledging that ethanol has a lower calorific value than conventional petrol, Gadkari maintained that any reduction in fuel efficiency is minimal and becomes noticeable mainly during high-speed driving.
“E20 fuel was launched after being properly tested. As for mileage, in city traffic in Delhi or Mumbai, you will not see any major change, there may be some loss when you are driving at high speed on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. I have always said there is a minor mileage loss due to low calorific value of ethanol compared to petrol," he said.
Gadkari also dismissed allegations that his family's sugar business created a conflict of interest, saying he has no role in its operations and no influence over ethanol pricing, which is decided by the Union Cabinet.
“That business is run by my sons, the programme is run by the petroleum ministry and the price is decided by the Cabinet. So, I have no influence over it. Ethanol is just 10% of the business and the factories run by my sons have less than 0.5% share of the ethanol business in the country. The companies have a debt of Rs 1,600 crore. Lot of lies are being spread," he said, while speaking to TOI.
Describing ethanol as one of several cleaner fuel options, the minister said the government's biofuel strategy is intended to curb vehicular pollution while reducing India's reliance on imported crude oil.
He added that the ethanol programme has expanded beyond sugarcane and now uses feedstocks including maize, rice, crop stubble and bamboo, creating additional opportunities for farmers while supporting cleaner energy production.
The Centre's accelerated rollout of E20 petrol has sparked debate among some vehicle owners and industry experts over its effect on engine performance, fuel economy and compatibility with older vehicles.
Although the government achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending ahead of schedule and maintains that all E10-compliant petrol vehicles can safely operate on E20 fuel, some motorists have raised concerns about reduced mileage because ethanol contains less energy than petrol.
In response to those concerns, the government recently issued a detailed 10-point clarification addressing questions related to engine damage, water consumption, vehicle warranties, fuel efficiency and environmental impact, while rejecting what it described as misinformation surrounding the E20 programme.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the initiative, under which petrol contains up to 20% ethanol, is supported by scientific research, regulatory safeguards and international experience.
The minister had also said that India’s ethanol blending programme is safe and dismissed claims that using E20 fuel could invalidate vehicle insurance policies.
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