The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea that challenged the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP-20) and sought the option of ethanol-free petrol.
The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has strongly defended the country's ethanol-blending programme amid 'misleading' claims from some quarters about its impact on vehicle engines.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has dismissed recent claims circulating on social media that E20 petrol, petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol, causes a drastic drop in fuel efficiency.
Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) started selling E20 petrol in February 2023 and it is currently being sold at more than 1,900 retail outlets across the country, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Rameswar Teli, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Customers with E20 petrol-compatible vehicles will be able to opt for this fuel at select Jio-bp outlets, and the offering will soon be expanded across the network.