The Indian government has confirmed that premium grades of petrol will continue to be supplied without ethanol blending, while ruling out any immediate plan to increase the ethanol blend in regular petrol beyond the existing 20% (E20) level, according to Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi.
Premium Petrol Grades Remain Ethanol-Free
The premium petrol grades — Indian Oil Corp’s XP100, Hindustan Petroleum’s poWer100, and Bharat Petroleum’s Speed100 — are not blended with ethanol because they are niche fuels containing specialised performance-enhancing additives, according to the minister. These grades account for only about 0.5 per cent of total petrol sales. They retail at around Rs 160 per litre compared to Rs 102.12 per litre for normal petrol, which is blended with 20 per cent ethanol.
Government Reaffirms E20 as Standard
Since April 1, 2026, ethanol-blended motor spirit with a minimum research octane number (RON) of 95 has been notified under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme, according to a written reply in the Lok Sabha. Public and private fuel retailers have been directed to supply petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol across all states and Union territories.
The minister stated that the government has not received any widespread or substantiated complaints from vehicle manufacturers, automobile associations, or consumer organisations regarding E20 fuel. Laboratory studies, field trials, and operational data showed no widespread adverse impact on engine durability, performance, or vehicle life. More than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 3 crore petrol cars have been operating on higher ethanol blends without verified evidence of widespread engine failures attributable to ethanol blending.
No Plan to Exceed E20 or Revert to E0/E10
Any decision to raise ethanol blending beyond 20 per cent will be taken only after detailed scientific and technical studies and consultations with automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, and research institutions, the minister said. There is no proposal to restore the supply of E0 (no ethanol) or E10 (10 per cent ethanol) petrol, citing the logistical costs of maintaining parallel nationwide fuel supply chains and the objective of transitioning to cleaner fuels. “Having been scientifically validated and accepted by the automobile industry after extensive testing, there is no proposal to revert to E0/E10 petrol,” Gopi said.
Government Rationale for Policy Continuity
The minister emphasised that the objective of public policy is to move forward with a superior fuel, not return to an inferior standard. “Maintaining parallel nationwide supply chains for E0, E10, and E20 petrol across more than one lakh retail outlets would significantly increase logistics complexity, inventory and handling costs. Public policy must balance consumer convenience with energy security, environmental sustainability and farmer welfare,” he added.
| Fuel Type | Ethanol Content | Retail Price (Rs/litre) | Share of Total Petrol Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium petrol (XP100, poWer100, Speed100) | 0% | ~160 | ~0.5% |
| Regular petrol (E20) | 20% | 102.12 | ~99.5% |
The policy reaffirms the government’s commitment to the current 20% ethanol blending target and keeps premium-grade fuels as a niche, ethanol-free product for performance-oriented consumers.
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