Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on 9 July firmly rejected criticism of ethanol-blended petrol, asserting that E20 fuel is scientifically validated, safe for all compatible vehicles, and a cornerstone of India's energy self-reliance strategy. The minister also alleged that a coordinated misinformation campaign against ethanol blending had gained momentum following the launch of E85-compatible flex-fuel vehicles in the country.

India's Ethanol Blending Timeline

In a post on X, Minister Puri outlined India's steady progression through higher ethanol blends — E15 since April 2023, E19 since April 2024, and E20 since April 2025 — with no significant issues reported despite large-scale adoption. He pointed out that more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 20 lakh four-wheelers have been running on E20 fuel for years without incident.

'More than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 20 lakh four-wheelers have been running successfully on E20 fuel for years, yet suddenly a campaign against ethanol blending has gathered pace,' Puri said.

The E85 Launch and Alleged Misinformation

Puri claimed that criticism of ethanol-blended fuels intensified specifically after India launched E85 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles on 5 June, a development he described as a major milestone in reducing the country's dependence on imported crude oil. 'Look closely at the timeline and the pattern becomes difficult to ignore,' the minister said, alleging that fearmongering around ethanol blends began shortly after the E85 rollout.

Notably, the minister characterised the current opposition to accelerated ethanol blending as politically motivated, pointing out that the programme itself was initiated under the previous Congress-led government.

Energy Security and Economic Case

India currently imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil and accounts for approximately 30 per cent of global oil demand growth, making the development of domestic alternative fuels critical, according to Puri. He argued that every litre of ethanol blended into petrol helps cut crude imports, curbs air pollution, supports domestic farmers, and conserves foreign exchange.

'Every litre of ethanol blended into petrol helps reduce crude oil imports, strengthens India's energy security, reduces air pollution, supports domestic farmers and saves valuable foreign exchange,' he said.

Benefits for Farmers

The minister said the ethanol blending programme had transformed the country's 'Annadatas' (food providers) into 'Urjadatas' (energy providers) by creating an additional and stable source of income for India's farming community. He added that the programme also makes the country less vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions and global oil price volatility.

What Comes Next

With E85 now commercially available for flex-fuel vehicles and the government defending the programme's scientific credentials, the focus will shift to whether public concerns — amplified through social media — affect adoption rates. The Centre's position is that ethanol blending is an internationally proven, verified, and completely safe approach, and it shows no signs of reversing course on its blending targets.