E-20 blended petrol arrives in Kolkata amid engine health controversy

Indian Oil has officially expanded the availability of E-20 ethanol-blended petrol across several major areas in Kolkata, including Lansdowne, Prince Anwar Shah Road, Rajarhat, Kasba, and Rabindra Sadan. Indian Oil Secretary Kushal Bajoria announced the rollout at the Press Club, emphasizing that the shift toward agricultural biofuels like sugarcane and corn-derived ethanol is designed to save foreign exchange, minimize environmental pollution, and curb reliance on petroleum imports. Entrepreneur Dilip Mehra noted that ethanol integration in Kolkata has steadily scaled over recent years, moving from 30 percent in 2023 to 40 percent in 2025, with Indian Oil now actively spearheading initiatives to transition regional fuel infrastructure toward 95 percent blending capacities.

The center's aggressive push for ethanol-blended fuel comes at a critical time of supply volatility in the Middle East, with the central government planning to eventually introduce vehicles that run exclusively on ethanol. While oil manufacturing companies assure consumers that modern vehicle engines are fully compatible with E-20 fuel and will operate smoothly, the project continues to face notable public skepticism and criticism nationwide. Oil executives have actively defended the transition by citing successful, high-percentage global benchmarks, pointing out that countries like Brazil and the United States regularly mandate blended fuel compositions of 80 percent and 85 percent ethanol respectively.

Despite official assurances, a segment of local automobile owners and consumer groups has raised growing concerns regarding the immediate economic impact of the blended fuel. Critics allege that excessive ethanol concentrations have contributed to reduced vehicular mileage and potential long-term engine deterioration, with some drivers even claiming that compatibility issues have forced premature vehicle replacements. As Kolkata transitions into this green energy phase, local authorities are closely monitoring the operational feedback from consumers while police and administrative bodies maintain focus on standardizing fuel distribution across the newly designated urban oil outlets.