Now Reading: CEA suggests bringing back E10 alongside E20 petrol
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CEA suggests bringing back E10 alongside E20 petrol
Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran has said the government should make E10 petrol available alongside E20 at the pumps to calm public concern about damage to older vehicles. Writing in The Indian Express, he acknowledged older rubber seals degrade on contact with higher ethanol blends, and warned that rising ethanol demand could pressure livestock feed, land and water supplies.
Oil Ministry sources told ET Now that supplying multiple blends would create serious operational and financial pressure for oil marketing companies, and could increase malpractices. The ministry had already ruled out E10 in July, Oilprice.com reports. Ethanol industry body AIDA said India should not roll back policy based on sentiment. Former CM Arvind Kejriwal asked if the PM would heed the CEA or replace him. India switched to E20 as the only petrol option from April 1 this year.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Nikkei Asia frames the E20 shift as raising unanswered scientific questions about fuel economy and vehicle wear, while Oilprice.com presents Nageswaran as the first senior official to break ranks and mentions the petroleum ministry has already ruled out the change. ET Energyworld carries the CEA's full argument, the industry pushback from AIDA, and Kejriwal's political twist. Times Now adds another layer: the oil ministry sources say logistical hurdles make E10 infeasible. The measured middle ground: the CEA's suggestion has public logic, but the ministry and OMCs have already said no on practical grounds. Watch for any actual policy move before the next ethanol-supply season.
Coverage: 4 sources, 2 pro-government, 2 neutral
Sources (4): energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com (pro government), timesnownews.com (pro government), asia.nikkei.com (neutral report), oilprice.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
