Daijiworld Media Network - Betul (South Goa)

Betul (South Goa), Oct 27: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said the Centre has no immediate plans to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current level of 20 per cent, while alleging that misinformation was being spread about biofuels.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the 29th Energy Technology and Innovation Meet at Betul in South Goa, Puri said the government had set a target of 20 per cent ethanol blending and had no plans to raise it further for now.

“In so far as biofuels are concerned, yes, the 20 per cent ethanol blending was the target, and there is no desire, just now, to increase it by more than 20 per cent,” he said in response to a question.

He alleged that misinformation was deliberately being circulated about E20, which contains 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol.

The government has been promoting ethanol-blended petrol as part of its strategy to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, a major contributor to the country’s current account deficit. India has already rolled out E20 fuel across the country.

Puri said he had seen a social media post claiming that vehicles had stopped functioning and were experiencing breakdowns, suggesting that the government had stopped selling ethanol-blended fuel.

He maintained that E20 fuel was compatible with vehicles, although some problems had been reported in older vehicles manufactured before 2003.

“There was some problem with the older vehicles which were manufactured before 2003,” the minister said.

Puri claimed that the introduction of E20 petrol had helped India save Rs 1.60 lakh crore, of which Rs 1.40 lakh crore had been transferred to farmers.

“The farmers have become Urjadata (giver of energy) from Annadata (giver of food),” he remarked.

Responding to reports of problems faced by E20 fuel users, Puri suggested that transportation could have contributed to some of the issues.

“I think there was a problem with the transportation of the blended fuel. The tankers which were used for transportation were also used for other things,” he said.

On allegations of engine damage caused by E20 fuel, the minister said an automobile manufacturer had filed a case against a person who made such a claim.

He described the allegations surrounding E20 fuel as a “contrived narrative” and argued that widespread engine damage would have been evident given the scale of fuel consumption.

“Six crore vehicles go to the dispensing stations every day. If engine damage was caused, you could have seen the vehicles all over the place,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Monday notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, allowing flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on ethanol blends of up to E100, or nearly 100 per cent ethanol.

Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to operate on higher ethanol blends, including E85, which contains 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol, and E100.

Leading automobile manufacturers, including Toyota, Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor Company, are also developing flex-fuel vehicles for the Indian market.

Puri was speaking at the inauguration of the 29th Energy Technology and Innovation Meet, organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at Betul village in South Goa. The event’s theme is ‘Accelerating Energy Innovation From Research to Commercialisation’.