Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has defended the use of E20 petrol, stating it is safe for vehicles and crucial for India’s energy self-reliance. Puri dismissed criticisms, emphasizing that E20 has been scientifically tested and successfully used in over 20 crore two-wheelers and 20 lakh four-wheelers without major issues.
India has been utilizing E15, E19, and now E20 fuels since April 2023, April 2024, and April 2025, respectively. Puri highlighted that the recent surge in misinformation against ethanol blending coincided with the introduction of E85-compatible vehicles, aimed at reducing India’s reliance on imported crude oil.
The minister pointed out that India’s heavy dependence on imported crude oil necessitates the expansion of domestic alternative fuels for energy security. He stressed that ethanol blending not only curbs crude oil imports but also benefits air quality, supports farmers, and conserves foreign exchange reserves.
Puri described E20 as a safe, internationally proven fuel that has provided farmers with an additional income source through the ethanol blending program. He noted that the initiative, which began under the previous government, is crucial for reducing India’s vulnerability to global oil price fluctuations and geopolitical disruptions.
