Archive · 10 Aug 2026
India rules out ethanol-diesel blend after safety test failure
India wanted to mix a fuel called ethanol into diesel, the fuel many trucks and buses use.
But when scientists tested it, they found a big problem: the mixture could catch fire too easily.
That made it unsafe to use on the roads.
Because of this, the government said no to ethanol-diesel for now.
The government is still using ethanol in petrol, which is the fuel for most cars.
It has a goal of mixing 20 per cent ethanol into petrol.
Earlier, oil companies asked for 10.5 billion litres of ethanol and got offers for much more than that.
The government is also thinking about using ethanol for cooking instead of the gas used in many kitchens.
This could help India buy less cooking gas from other countries.
The minister who told Parliament about this is Suresh Gopi.
Ethanol-blended diesel failed required safety specifications because ethanol sharply lowered the fuel's flash point, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said in a written reply to Parliament.
Gopi said the fuel is effectively ruled out for wider use unless the technical issue is resolved, as scientific evaluations by public-sector oil marketing companies found it did not meet diesel flash-point specifications.
India's ethanol blending programme remains focused on petrol, with a 20 per cent blending target, and no decision has been taken to raise blending beyond that level.
The minister said isobutanol is presently not being blended with diesel.
The government is examining ethanol as a potential cooking fuel to help reduce dependence on imported liquefied petroleum gas and utilise surplus domestic ethanol production capacity.
- Who
- Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi and public-sector oil marketing companies
- What
- Ethanol-blended diesel was ruled out for wider use after it failed safety specifications because ethanol drastically lowered the fuel's flash point
- When
- Announced on Monday in a written reply to Parliament
- Where
- India
- Why
- The ethanol-blended diesel did not meet the required diesel flash-point specification, making it unsafe under current technical standards
- Fuel tested
- Ethanol-blended diesel
- Reason for failure
- Flash point lowered drastically by the presence of ethanol
- Current petrol blending target
- 20 per cent ethanol in petrol
- Ethanol tender (September 2025)
- OMCs sought about 10.5 billion litres for 2025-26
- Ethanol offers received
- Nearly 17.6 billion litres, about 68 per cent more than sought
- Ethanol allocated
- 10.485 billion litres to 378 registered suppliers
- Isobutanol in diesel
- Presently not being blended with diesel
- Cooking fuel exploration
- Ethanol studied as a biofuel alternative; LPG Equipment Research Centre working on ethanol-based clean cooking options