Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has accused the petroleum lobby of orchestrating a “paid campaign” against him, following criticism over the nationwide rollout of E20, petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol.
Speaking at the 65th annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in New Delhi, Gadkari said vested interests were attempting to derail the government’s green fuel initiative. “Everywhere there are lobbies, there are interests… petrol lobby is very rich,” he remarked.
The minister alleged that concerns circulating on social media were not organic but fuelled by industry pressure. “The social media campaign was a paid campaign against me. The Supreme Court has also dismissed the petition. There was no fact,” Gadkari added.
The E20 blend, first introduced at select fuel stations in April 2023, was extended nationwide in April 2025, replacing the earlier E10 mix. The programme, built around ethanol derived largely from sugarcane and food grains, is intended to cut crude imports and boost farm incomes.
While consumers and automobile experts have warned of possible vehicle damage and lower mileage, the oil ministry has maintained that the impact is marginal. In a statement last month, it said, “Ethanol, being lower in energy density than petrol, results in a marginal decrease in mileage, estimated at 1–2 per cent for four-wheelers designed for E10 and calibrated for E20, and around 3–6 per cent in others.”
The ministry pointed out that automakers had been producing E20-compliant vehicles since 2009.
Also read: E20 petrol can reduce car fuel efficiency by 2-5 pc, say experts
Despite criticism, Gadkari has defended the scheme as an economic and environmental necessity. “We have an import of ₹22 lakh crore. Is it not appropriate that we have to make in India with our own strength? We can stand on our own strength. So we are working on that,” he said at the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations’ Auto Retail Conclave.
He further argued that the transition would strengthen energy security, curb emissions, and expand demand for ethanol crops, thereby benefiting Indian farmers.
Looking beyond ethanol, Gadkari said India must widen its fuel basket. “We want to concentrate on alternative fuel, biofuel, hydrogen, electric, whatever the choice may be, even in the marine engine. Now we are planning to use methanol,” he said, adding that trials with isobutanol were also under way.
India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, remains acutely vulnerable to global price shocks. Gadkari insisted that diversifying fuel sources was essential to ensuring long-term energy independence.
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