The Crossbill Team
The Centre on Tuesday (July 1) issued a clarification rejecting media reports that claimed the attorney general had described India’s E20 fuel blending programme as an “ongoing experiment” before the Supreme Court. The government insisted that no such submission was made and said reports suggesting otherwise had misrepresented the proceedings in court.
According to a report by The Economic Times, Attorney general R. Venkataramani told the Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 30) that the E20 blending programme is an “ongoing experiment” and that its full impact will become clearer by next year.
The top court was hearing a petition filed by state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited against a June 23 Karnataka high court order directing enhancement of ethanol allocation.
The court has asked state-run oil marketing companies to keep ethanol supply allocations for Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 unchanged. Several other media publications also reported the same.
However, in a press release, the Ministry of Law and Justice said that the reports are “completely false and do not reflect anything even close to the actual submissions made before the Hon’ble Court”.
“During the hearing, the learned Attorney General submitted that similar writ petitions involving identical issues concerning allocation of ethanol to Dedicated Ethanol Plants are presently pending before different High Courts,” it said.
“At no stage was any submission made that the Government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme or the E20 blending programme is an “experiment”,” the ministry stated, urging the media to report judicial proceedings with accuracy, “particularly in matters involving important national policy initiatives”.
The clarification comes even as the government appears to be exploring higher levels of ethanol blending.
According to a separate report by The Economic Times, authorities have initiated tests on E25 fuel — petrol blended with 25% ethanol — to study its performance and viability.
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has reportedly been entrusted with conducting the study using vehicles compatible with E10 and E20 fuels.
India formally rolled out E20 fuel sales in April under its Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme as part of efforts to cut crude oil imports and increase the use of domestically produced biofuels.
The move, however, has attracted criticism from consumers and industry experts who have raised concerns over reduced fuel efficiency and the preparedness of vehicles for higher ethanol content.
Experts have also cautioned that any further increase in ethanol blending levels could have implications for the sugar sector, arguing that India may need to restrict sugar exports to ensure adequate feedstock availability.
In May, the government had also notified standards for petrol blended with up to 30% ethanol, signalling that it is keeping the door open for even higher blending targets in the future amid concerns over global energy security and volatile crude oil prices.
According to a report by The Economic Times, Attorney general R. Venkataramani told the Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 30) that the E20 blending programme is an “ongoing experiment” and that its full impact will become clearer by next year.
The top court was hearing a petition filed by state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited against a June 23 Karnataka high court order directing enhancement of ethanol allocation.
The court has asked state-run oil marketing companies to keep ethanol supply allocations for Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 unchanged. Several other media publications also reported the same.
However, in a press release, the Ministry of Law and Justice said that the reports are “completely false and do not reflect anything even close to the actual submissions made before the Hon’ble Court”.
“During the hearing, the learned Attorney General submitted that similar writ petitions involving identical issues concerning allocation of ethanol to Dedicated Ethanol Plants are presently pending before different High Courts,” it said.
“At no stage was any submission made that the Government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme or the E20 blending programme is an “experiment”,” the ministry stated, urging the media to report judicial proceedings with accuracy, “particularly in matters involving important national policy initiatives”.
The clarification comes even as the government appears to be exploring higher levels of ethanol blending.
According to a separate report by The Economic Times, authorities have initiated tests on E25 fuel — petrol blended with 25% ethanol — to study its performance and viability.
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has reportedly been entrusted with conducting the study using vehicles compatible with E10 and E20 fuels.
India formally rolled out E20 fuel sales in April under its Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme as part of efforts to cut crude oil imports and increase the use of domestically produced biofuels.
The move, however, has attracted criticism from consumers and industry experts who have raised concerns over reduced fuel efficiency and the preparedness of vehicles for higher ethanol content.
Experts have also cautioned that any further increase in ethanol blending levels could have implications for the sugar sector, arguing that India may need to restrict sugar exports to ensure adequate feedstock availability.
In May, the government had also notified standards for petrol blended with up to 30% ethanol, signalling that it is keeping the door open for even higher blending targets in the future amid concerns over global energy security and volatile crude oil prices.
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