E20 petrol can help cut India's crude oil import dependence: ONGC official

E20 petrol could help India reduce its dependence on imported crude oil and improve energy self-reliance, ONGC Director (Exploration) Om Prakash Sinha said on Monday, reported PTI.

Sinha was speaking at the curtain raiser for India Energy Week (IEW) 2027 at the ONGC Institute of Reservoir Studies in Ahmedabad. The event was virtually connected to the main curtain-raiser ceremony in Kolkata.advertisement❮❯ Read Full StoryE20 CAN HELP CUT IMPORTSSinha said E20 petrol remains a challenge, but technology can help address the concerns linked to its use.

“E20 petrol is a challenge, but with technology there will also be a solution,” he said.

He said India imports around 90% of its crude oil and that successfully blending ethanol at 20% without causing difficulties for consumers could make a significant difference to the country's import dependence.

“If we can successfully blend ethanol at 20 per cent without causing any difficulties to consumers, then you can understand how significant the reduction in imports would be and how much it would increase our self-reliance,” Sinha said.ONGC FOCUSING ON DOMESTIC PRODUCTION

Sinha said India has the world's highest incremental energy requirement, making IEW an important platform to discuss the country's energy needs, challenges and possible solutions.

He also said countries are looking to reduce their dependence on foreign sources amid the war in West Asia.

“Because of the war, every country today understands that we should reduce our dependence on foreign countries as much as we can. We should not have only one option; we should keep multiple options,” he said.

Sinha added that ONGC is increasing its focus on frontier and less-explored areas, including deepwater regions, to expand domestic production.

The efforts reflect India's wider push to reduce its reliance on overseas energy supplies and strengthen domestic energy security.- Ends