Nitin Gadkari Says Buy Costlier Pure Petrol If You Don't Want E20 Fuel

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari suggested that petrol consumers should pay more for pure petrol if they do not want to use E20 fuel. This statement has created a fresh controversy, as many users are already urging the government to stop ethanol blending.

Ethanol blending is currently one of the biggest issues in the country. While consumers raise concerns regarding reduced mileage, engine issues, and higher operating costs, the Government of India has dismissed these claims as rumours and termed them theories created by the opposition.

'Pay More For Pure Petrol'- Nitin Gadkari On E20 Fuel Critics

In a recent interview, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was asked whether consumers could get pure petrol instead of ethanol-blended fuel. The minister responded by saying that if buyers do not want ethanol-blended petrol, they can purchase pure petrol, which is already available at a higher price.

Indian Oil Corporation sells pure petrol under the XP100 brand, while Hindustan Petroleum offers Power 100, and Bharat Petroleum markets Speed 100. These fuels are available only at select fuel stations. One litre of pure petrol costs around Rs 170, which is significantly higher than the current price of around Rs 110 per litre for regular petrol.

So, if buyers prefer pure petrol, they will have to spend more, which will further increase their operating costs. However, even these premium fuels contain up to 5% ethanol, and they are primarily developed for premium sports cars to deliver better performance and help maintain engine health.

However, due to their limited availability, users in rural areas may not have access to these fuels. Also, because of their high prices, many consumers may not be willing to spend that much for a litre of petrol.

Considering these factors, ethanol-blended fuel remains unavoidable for consumers in India. Many consumers also expect petrol prices to come down, as the fuel is blended with ethanol rather than being pure petrol. However, the government has said it wants to monitor the stability of global fuel supplies for a few more months before taking any decision on reducing petrol prices in India.