E20 petrol saved consumers nearly ₹30 per litre during crude price spike: Govt

The petroleum ministry stated E20 petrol saved consumers nearly ₹30 per litre during the global crude oil crisis.

Without ethanol blending, petrol prices in Delhi could have risen to ₹125 per litre when crude oil hit nearly US$135 per barrel.

E20 petrol contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, and its use has been introduced by the Centre despite criticism from opposition parties and consumer groups.

The ministry dismissed claims that subsidised rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was diverted for ethanol production.

The ethanol blending programme aims to reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil, which meets nearly 88% of the country's oil requirement.