New Delhi: The Union government has notified the standards for petrol to be blended with up to 30% ethanol amid an energy crisis arising from the ongoing situation in West Asia due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. In a new notification dated May 18, as reported by Mint, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) signalled the government’s intent to move beyond the E20 rollout – which allows ethanol blending up to 27% – as geopolitical tensions and rising crude prices increase India’s energy security concerns.The BIS notified norms for E22, E25, E27 and E30 fuel blends, referring to petrol blended with 22%, 25%, 27% and 30% ethanol, respectively. The BIS notification, however, outlines the technical specifications required for introducing such blends to the market. It does not immediately mandate nationwide sale of E30 fuel.The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, has pushed the government to depend on alternative options, including raising the capacity utilisation of ethanol.The government has widely advocated the E20 fuel adoption over the last couple of years, although there have been concerns that it impacted fuel efficiency and the engines of older cars, hiking owners’ maintenance cost.Defending the move, however, Union minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri had last year said that there had not been a single case of engine failure or breakdown reported since E20 became a base fuel. Citing Brazil’s example, he had said that the country has run on E27 for years without any issues.Meanwhile, industry bodies and biofuel manufacturers have increasingly pushed for a movement towards E22 and higher blends, citing surplus ethanol availability and the need to reduce oil import dependence.“If the government decides to implement it and it becomes a standard requirement for everybody, we will comply. We have the capability to comply with it,” R.C. Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, was quoted as saying by the daily.According to another report by Mint, Indian automakers have now urged the government to lower prices of high-ethanol fuels like E85 and E100 to boost consumer adoption of ‘flex-fuel’ vehicles, saying they are unlikely to adopt it unless the prices are significantly lower. The industry is also seeking tax benefits amid rising energy security concerns.Meanwhile, Business Standard reported that some experts have also cautioned that moving beyond E20 would require alignment between fuel availability, vehicle compatibility standards and distribution infrastructure, particularly across regions with varying climatic and operating conditions.Previously, experts have pointed out that if India wants to allow higher ethanol blending with petrol by increasing E20 level, the country will have to ban sugar export.