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India rules out wider ethanol-blended diesel use after safety tests show sharply lower flash point
Technology·Short term·▼ -6%

Suresh Gopi’s diesel decision will redirect biofuel policy toward petrol and other blends, delaying any national diesel mandate.

A safety-driven halt undercuts near-term decarbonisation narratives for diesel and forces policymakers to reconcile blending targets with engine compatibility and fuel-handling risk. It also signals that future biofuel expansion may shift toward alternative blends or different sectors.

AI reasoning

A safety-driven halt undercuts near-term decarbonisation narratives for diesel and forces policymakers to reconcile blending targets with engine compatibility and fuel-handling risk. It also signals that future biofuel expansion may shift toward alternative blends or different sectors.

Curated summary

India’s government said ethanol-blended diesel failed safety tests because its flash point dropped sharply, so wider use is ruled out for now. Petroleum minister Suresh Gopi said state oil firms tested the blends with labs and automakers. He added that India has not raised petrol ethanol blending beyond 20% and has no decision on diesel blending with isobutanol. State oil firms also floated a September 2025 tender for about 10.5 billion litres of ethanol for 2025–26.

Supporting evidence

Source news

India rules out wider ethanol-blended diesel use after safety tests show sharply lower flash point

Petroleum minister says blends failed safety checks; petrol blending remains capped at 20% for now.

Times of India·2h ago
Read full article at Times of India