Ethanol blending is the practice of mixing fuel-grade ethanol with petrol to reduce crude oil consumption and tailpipe emissions. India's Ethanol Blended Petrol programme reached E20 (20% ethanol) in 2025, up from 1.5% in 2014.
How blending works
Ethanol is splash- or in-line blended with petrol at depots. E10 means 10% ethanol, E20 means 20%. Higher blends reduce the share of imported crude in every litre and cut net CO₂ when the ethanol is made from renewable feedstock.
The 1.5% to 20% story
Backed by guaranteed procurement, a national roadmap and rapid distillery investment, India achieved E20 in 2025 — five years ahead of its 2030 target. Production capacity grew roughly tenfold over the same period.
Blending by milestone
| Year | Blend level |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1.5% |
| 2018 | ~4% |
| 2022 | 10% (E10) |
| 2025 | 20% (E20) |
See the numbers for yourself.
Part of our pillar guide — India's ethanol economy in 2030