Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Government told the Parliament on July 23 that that no decision has been taken so far to increase ethanol blending with petrol beyond 20 per cent.
Any future decision regarding higher ethanol blends will be taken only after detailed scientific and technical studies and consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies and research institutions.
However, E85 fuel (containing 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol) has been introduced exclusively for use in Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) designed and certified for such fuel (E85) and does not constitute an increase in the nationwide base ethanol blending level of petrol, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said in a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha.
He also clarified that ethanol has been used globally for more than a century, with countries such as Brazil operating higher ethanol blends for decades.
In India, the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has been implemented through a phased, scientifically validated and consultative process involving NITI Aayog, automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) and other technical institutions.
The scientific studies, field validation and extensive real-world operating experience have shown that E20 is a safe, cleaner and technologically superior fuel when used in accordance with the prescribed specifications and manufacturer recommendations.
