India Launches 85% Ethanol Fuel to Cut Oil Import Dependence

India is launching on Friday a new fuel blend with an 85% ethanol component as part of the fuel flex mobility program of the world's third-largest crude importer to reduce dependence on imported oil.

The E85 fuel was officially launched at a ceremony in New Delhi in the presence of India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri.

On Thursday, Puri launched India's first flex-fuel passenger vehicle by Maruti Suzuki in New Delhi.

Flex-fuel vehicles can operate on a range of ethanol–petrol blends, from E20 up to E100.

India…