Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Launches ‘ETHANOL 100’ Automotive Fuel

New Delhi: Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, inaugurated a groundbreaking automotive fuel named ‘ETHANOL 100’ at the IndianOil Retail Outlet M/s. Irwin Road Service Station today. This innovative fuel, aimed at transforming India’s transportation sector, will be available at select 183 retail outlets across five states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, and Tamil Nadu.

Accompanying the Union Minister at the launch ceremony were Pankaj Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman of IndianOil, along with senior officials from the Ministry and functional Directors of IndianOil.

Puri underscored the significance of the launch, highlighting its alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transitioning from ‘Annadatas to Urjadatas’ – from food providers to energy providers. Describing ETHANOL 100 as a revolutionary fuel, he emphasized its potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and transform the transportation sector.

“The launch of ETHANOL 100 reflects the government’s commitment to reducing import dependency, conserving foreign exchange, and boosting the agriculture sector,” stated Puri. “Since the Prime Minister’s announcement on E20 (20% ethanol blended fuel) in 2023, the availability of E20 has increased to 12,000 outlets in under a year. With the launch of ETHANOL 100 at 183 outlets of IndianOil, we are close to achieving the target of 20% ethanol blending by 2025-26.”

Jain, Secretary MoPNG, lauded the initiative as a significant shift towards embracing sustainable technologies, instilling confidence in manufacturers to invest in ethanol-based vehicles. He emphasized the commitment to decarbonization and praised IndianOil for spearheading the initiative.

Highlighting the milestone, Vaidya, Chairman of IndianOil, noted that India now joins a select group of countries offering ETHANOL 100 fuel. He remarked, “This marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards sustainability and clean mobility.”

ETHANOL 100 represents a cleaner, greener alternative to gasoline, boasting lower emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants. With its high-octane rating, the fuel ensures improved efficiency and power output while minimizing environmental impact. Its versatility makes it suitable for a wide array of vehicles, including flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), showcasing its potential to become a mainstream fuel option.