The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Thursday how the fuel would be supplied after approval was granted for use of 100% ethanol in flex-fuel engine vehicles. The court was hearing petitions related to the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26. The bench raised the question, citing recent media reports. On 26 October, the Ministry of Road Transport issued a notification amending the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. This approved flex-fuel vehicles running on E100, or nearly pure ethanol. On 27 October, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that the Centre had no immediate plans to increase the ethanol-blending level in petrol beyond 20%. A bench comprising Supreme Court Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale said, “The day before yesterday, we read in some newspapers that vehicles running on 100% ethanol had been approved.” The bench asked, “In principle, we want to know how it would be supplied if vehicles running on 100% ethanol have been permitted.” Responding to the court’s question, Attorney General R Venkataramani said, “This would require large-scale changes to the manufacturing system.” Court stresses the need to empower farmers During the hearing, the bench stressed the need to empower the country’s farmers. The court said the issue should also be considered from the perspective of the wider public interest and the environment. Justice Sundresh said, “The third issue is the most important from the perspective of the country’s large population, namely farmers. We need to find a way to empower farmers. No one is highlighting this aspect.” R Venkataramani said he would respond to the issues concerning farmers during his submissions in the case. The bench said, “We have to empower the common man, who still lives in the villages.” A lawyer appearing in the case said that promoting ethanol would help farmers in one way or another. Another lawyer said that some of these issues had been incorporated into the central government’s policy. The lawyer said, “The central government’s policy also includes the aspect of farmers’ interests.” The bench has scheduled the next hearing in the case for next month. Flex-fuel vehicles run on E85 and E100 fuels Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on fuels with higher ethanol blends, such as E85 and E100. E85 contains 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. E100 contains approximately 100% ethanol. In contrast, conventional petrol vehicles have currently been approved for lower ethanol blends. Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said that the changes would update provisions for emissions certification. These explicitly include E100 along with E85. Dispute Over Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 On 30 June, the Supreme Court ordered that status quo be maintained on the Karnataka High Court’s directive to increase ethanol allocations for ESY 2025-26. The apex court was hearing a petition filed by an oil marketing company. The company claimed that the High Court’s order would destabilise the national policy of blending 20% ethanol with petrol. The High Court had directed Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited to consider a representation and take a decision on it. The representation was submitted by an ethanol producer who had sought an increase in ethanol allocation for ESY 2025-26. The High Court had said that dedicated ethanol plants were established under the government’s policy. These plants are contractually bound to supply ethanol only to oil marketing companies. The court had said that such plants cannot be denied the benefit of priority allocation stipulated in long-term offtake agreements. Post navigation Noel Tata to retire as Zudio-owner Trent’s Chairman:To be made Chairman Emeritus for 29 years of contribution; Vakil to take charge
