Plan to blend 15 percent isobutanol in diesel, announces Nitin Gadkari

The Government of India is now exploring the possibilities of blending 15 percent isobutanol into diesel fuel. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari shared this information during a programme held in New Delhi on Wednesday. He stated that tests are currently being conducted to determine how effective and useful this blend can prove to be. The Ministry of Petroleum will take a further decision after the results of these tests are available.

According to a report by Sandesh (Desh), the government's primary objective is to increase the use of biofuels in the country. India spends approximately ₹22 lakh crore every year on the import of fossil fuels. The government intends to increase the use of alternative fuels produced within the country, so that the dependence on crude oil imports and the massive expenditure incurred on it can be reduced. Additionally, this step may help in controlling vehicle pollution.

Meanwhile, Nitin Gadkari also discussed the upcoming Bharat Stage-7 (BS7) emission norms. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed to implement these new norms in three phases starting from 2029. However, the vehicle industry body SIAM desires that these norms be implemented in phases from 2032. The main objective of the new norms is to reduce air pollution, which will include strict controls on pollution caused by tyres and brakes in addition to vehicle exhaust.

On the other hand, some vehicle owners have complained about reduced mileage and engine issues regarding the E20 programme of blending 20 percent ethanol in petrol. Nitin Gadkari dismissed these claims and stated that no reports have emerged of any vehicle being damaged due to E20 petrol. He added that companies such as Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, and Maruti Suzuki have already developed vehicle models compatible with E20 petrol.