The Centre on Sunday dismissed reports claiming that Bhutan had rejected an offer to import E20 petrol from India, clarifying that no proposal has been made to export E20 fuel to the neighbouring country.
In a fact-check issued through the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG)the government said reports suggesting that Indian Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) had offered E20 petrol to Bhutan were “incorrect.”
“Claims that Bhutan declined an offer to import E20 petrol from India are incorrect. No such offer has been made by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), and there is no proposal for export of E20 petrol to Bhutan,” the ministry said in a post on X.
The clarification came in response to a report published by The Bhutanesewhich claimed that Bhutan had declined to import E20 fuel from India and that any future introduction of the fuel would require prior notice.
The issue gained political attention after the Congress shared the report on social media, alleging that Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had refused Indian fuel. The government rejected these claims and urged citizens to rely only on official information released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and public sector Oil Marketing Companies.
The clarification also comes amid an ongoing public debate over the nationwide rollout of E20 petrola fuel containing 20% ethanol blended with petrol. The government reiterated that the programme is based on extensive scientific testing and complies with internationally accepted fuel standards.
According to the Ministry of Information and BroadcastingE20 fuel was introduced only after comprehensive laboratory, vehicle and field testing conducted by institutions including the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Indian Oil R&D and the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP).
The government said the automobile industry has aligned vehicle production with prescribed ethanol-blending standards and clarified that the use of approved E20 fuel does not automatically void manufacturers’ warranties. It added that millions of vehicles have been operating on E20 since its nationwide rollout on April 1, 2025with no evidence of widespread engine failures attributable to the fuel.
India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme is a key component of the government’s strategy to reduce crude oil imports, enhance energy security, lower carbon emissions and support domestic biofuel production.
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