BPCL clarifies E20 petrol will not be replaced by E10 fuel

Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) on Thursday moved to clarify the scope of ongoing policy discussions around ethanol-blended petrol, asserting that E20 fuel will not be replaced by E10. The clarification came from BPCL Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Khanna during a media interaction following the company's annual shareholder meeting.

The current debate, according to Khanna, focuses on a narrower question: whether owners of older vehicles should have the option to purchase lower-ethanol blend fuel and how an additional petrol grade could be distributed across India's sprawling fuel-distribution infrastructure.

"I never said that E20 will be changed to E10," Khanna said, emphasising that the discussion does not imply E20 will be withdrawn from the market. "That doesn't mean E20 will be out and E10 will be in."

While dismissing replacement concerns, Khanna noted that BPCL sees no operational or logistical obstacles should the government decide to alter its ethanol-blending policy. The remarks suggest the industry is prepared to implement policy changes, even as the scope of such changes remains undefined.

The distinction appears significant as policymakers weigh compatibility concerns for older vehicle models against India's push toward higher ethanol blends, a biofuel strategy aimed at reducing crude oil imports and supporting domestic agriculture.