 (6).png)
5 hours ago
1
ARTICLE AD BOX
The government is engaging stakeholders to discuss flex fuel engines and increasing ethanol blending in petrol beyond 20%. This initiative aims to reduce oil imports and enhance energy security, particularly in light of supply challenges from the West Asia war and the changing global oil scenario.
Mint earlier reported that government is planning a policy push to enable the adoption of flex fuel vehicles which can run on ethanol blends of up to 85% in petrol.New Delhi: India is making a policy move towards high-blend ethanol and flex-fuel vehicles as the West Asia war threatens to disrupt the country's energy supply. Government officials are holding talks with automakers and state-run refiners to coordinate the rollout of engines capable of running on up to 85% ethanol, said Sujata Sharma, joint secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MopNG), while addressing the media on the West Asia war and the domestic fuel stock situation.
The push for energy self-sufficiency has gained urgency due to supply chain volatility near the Strait of Hormuz, from where 60% of India's crude imports are sourced. New Delhi is now looking at its current 20% blending target as a stepping stone to even higher blends.
Beyond the road, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas is changing fuel standards for aircraft to enhance adoption of sustainable jet fuel. A new amendment to aviation marketing norms now legally permits blending synthesized hydrocarbons with traditional jet fuel, laying the groundwork for a mandatory Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) rollout from 2027.
The ministry has amended the Aviation Turbine Fuel (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001, to allow the blending of ethanol in jet fuel. In a notification on 17 April, the MopNG said, “Aviation turbine fuel is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons conforming to IS 1571 specification or its blend with synthesised hydrocarbons.”
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from renewable feedstocks such as ethanol, agricultural residues, biomass, waste oils, and municipal waste. The government has already set a target of achieving 1% SAF blending with jet fuel by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030.
Delicate balance
The government has to manage a delicate balance: making manufacturers produce flex-fuel engines while pushing oil marketing companies (OMCs) to install the necessary infrastructure to distribute higher blends. While the government is also pushing electric induction cooktops to offset liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortages, the focus continues to be on delinking the country’s transport sector from the volatile global oil market.
Mint earlier reported that the government is planning a policy push to enable the adoption of flex fuel vehicles, which can run on ethanol blends of up to 85% in petrol.
On Tuesday, the union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said that India should aspire to achieve 100% ethanol blending in the near future. He said vulnerabilities in oil exports amid the West Asia crisis have made it necessary for the country to become self-reliant in the energy sector.
Addressing the media on the efforts to support the industry amid the supply crisis, Nidhi Kesarwani joint secretary, department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT), said that the mandatory energy efficiency and Quality Control Order (QCO) timelines for induction cooktops have been extended, and the corresponding amendment and gazette notifications were issued on 6 April, in view of manufacturers’ difficulty in meeting earlier deadlines, she said.
The push for electric cookstoves comes at a time when LPG supplies have been squeezed, and the government has urged citizens to shift to piped natural gas and induction cooktops.
About the Authors
Rituraj Baruah
Rituraj Baruah is a special correspondent covering energy, housing, urban affairs, heavy industries and small businesses at Mint. He has reported on diverse sectors over the last eight years including, commodities and stocks market, insolvency and real estate; with previous stints at Cogencis Information Services, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) and Inc42.
Harsh Kumar
Harsh Kumar is a policy reporter at Mint (HT Media Group), where he covers the Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with key departments of the Ministry of Finance, including the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS). With over five years of experience in business and economic journalism, he has developed strong expertise in tracking policy developments and their wider economic impact.<br><br>He has previously worked with Business Standard, Moneycontrol, and Outlook Money, where he reported extensively on banking, financial services, and the broader economy. Over the years, he has built a reputation for delivering accurate, insightful, and impactful stories, supported by a keen eye for detail and a consistent track record of breaking exclusive news.<br><br>An alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia, Harsh closely follows regulatory changes and key economic trends shaping India’s financial and industrial landscape. His reporting aims to simplify complex policy issues for a wider audience while maintaining depth and credibility.<br><br>Outside of work, he enjoys tracking policy developments, finding scoops, and travelling, reflecting his curiosity about how economic decisions shape everyday life.
English (US) ·