UNION Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has rejected criticism of ethanol-blended fuel, asserting that E20 petrol is scientifically tested, safe for vehicles and central to India’s push for energy self-reliance, while alleging that a misinformation campaign had intensified after the rollout of E85-compatible vehicles. In a post on X, the Minister said India has been using E15 fuel since April 2023, E19 since April 2024 and E20 since April 2025, with no major issues reported despite widespread adoption. “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.

 

He claimed the criticism intensified after India launched E85 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles on June 5, describing it as a major step towards 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-blended fuels began soon after the launch of E85-compatible vehicles. “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.