Union Petroleum Ministry has issued a clarification on why petrol blended with 20% ethanol, or E20 petrol, is not cheaper than E10 or pure petrol. It noted that between 2021-22 and 2025-26, the prices of molasses, sugarcane juice, damaged food grains, FCI rice and maize increased. It said that if oil is trading at $70/barrel, E20 is costlier to produce.