The existing E20-blended petrol will not be replaced with E10, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) said on Thursday. The clarification came amid reports that the government was exploring a lower-ethanol fuel option for owners of older vehicles.
E20 contributes to reducing pollution, creating rural prosperity and saving foreign exchange. BPCL continues to support the National ethanol blending programme and remains committed to ensuring fuel quality,” the company wrote. “Large-scale field experience from millions of vehicles operating on E20 fuel for more than last 3 years, has not shown any evidence of engine damage or any other concerns. The remarks followed reports suggesting that the petroleum ministry was discussing a proposal with state-run oil marketing companies, Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, to offer premium 95-octane petrol with a 10% ethanol blend.
BPCL Chairman Sanjay Khanna’s remarks were misrepresented to suggest that E10 was being considered as an alternative to E20, the company said. His response is being misquoted to suggest as if E10 is being considered as an option, which is not correct,” BPCL said in a statement on X. The proposal would give owners of older vehicles access to an E10 option without requiring a separate nationwide fuel distribution network, according to the report.
“Shri Sanjay Khanna Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL said that there is no proposal to replace the existing E20 blended Petrol with E10, on Thursday after BPCL’s AGM.
The proposal would use existing premium-petrol infrastructure, which would avoid the need for a separate E10 supply network. The ministry said that vehicles designed for E10 could experience a marginal 3-5% reduction in fuel efficiency when using E20. Under the proposal reported by Mint, premium 95-octane fuels such as Indian Oil’s XP95, BPCL’s SPEED and Hindustan Petroleum’s Power95 could be sold with a 10% ethanol blend.
The government has time and again said that E20 does not cause vehicle or engine damage. Mileage could drop, though, Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri said earlier this year.
