Nitin Gadkari In 2018: Diesel To Cost 50/Liter, Ethanol Blended Petrol Rs. 55/Liter

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, is often known for making viral announcements. We are sure you would remember a couple of them yourselves. We recently came across an old social media post where Minister Nitin Gadkari promised that the prices of diesel and ethanol-mixed petrol would come down.

The image and the post were shared by ANI on their official X profile in September 2018. Nitin Gadkari was visiting Chhattisgarh’s Durg when he made this statement. We all know that Nitin Gadkari has been pushing ethanol and EVs for quite some time now. He has said in many public appearances that he wants to promote ethanol to reduce India’s reliance on petrol imports from other countries.

He has also mentioned on many occasions that by doing this - by promoting ethanol - he won’t just be controlling imports but will also ensure that fuel is available at a lower cost. He said that when compared to petrol, ethanol is cheaper to produce, and we can generate it in abundance as it is a by-product of sugarcane.

The whole idea seemed to be quite promising, and many people supported this initiative. It is because of efforts like these that we are now getting ethanol-mixed petrol from fuel pumps across the country.

Did Nitin Gadkari Keep His Promise?

Well, when Nitin Gadkari made this announcement, the average petrol price in India was ₹78.52 per litre. We are now in 2025, and the average price of petrol is around ₹105 per litre. In 2018, when Nitin Gadkari made the statement, ethanol blending in India was around 5–10 percent. In 2023, the government introduced E20, which simply meant the ethanol ratio in petrol increased from 10 to 20 percent.

If we were to go by the minister’s words, the price of petrol should have ideally come down. But over the years, that hasn’t happened. In fact, we are now paying more than ever before - even for ethanol-blended petrol.

If you want to fill petrol without ethanol, you’ll have to opt for XP100 or Power100 grade fuel and pay around ₹160 per litre. If we were to go by the minister’s words, petrol prices should have ideally decreased by now. However, that hasn’t happened, and he has failed to keep his promise.

Crude Oil Price?

If you're saying that fluctuations in the international market are what caused the price rise, then let’s look at crude oil prices. In 2018, a barrel of crude oil cost USD 71.34. In 2025, the price of crude oil is around USD 68.59.

Despite prices coming down on multiple occasions, the government has not reduced petrol and diesel prices in India. Crude oil prices are likely to go up in the coming months due to various geopolitical reasons.

This is not just the case with petrol. Even diesel prices have increased since Gadkari made this announcement. A litre of diesel in 2018 was around ₹68–70. In 2025, you will have to pay around ₹87 in Delhi.

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol is an alternative biofuel. It is considered one of the most promising renewable and eco-friendly fuels. It is made from by-products of plants such as corn and sugarcane. Ethanol was introduced to reduce dependence on imported fuels. Additionally, its production supports local agriculture and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, making it a greener choice.

While the blended fuel is claimed to be greener, it is definitely less efficient. Apart from reduced fuel economy, the ethanol blended in fuel is highly corrosive and not suitable for older cars.

They are not compatible with this new mixture, and it can lead to corrosion of fuel lines and other rubber and plastic components. It can affect engine performance and also reduce the lifespan of the car’s engine. Older engines that are not designed for E20 might run leaner (with a higher air-fuel ratio), which can cause higher combustion temperatures and potentially lead to engine damage.

Conclusion

The end customer - the common man is still suffering and paying more for less petrol. In fact, he is not just paying more for less fuel, but he is also unknowingly reducing the life of his vehicle and being forced to buy new vehicles sooner than expected.