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🇳🇵 Nepal /Energy & Infrastructure

Nepal moves to set ethanol standards ahead of petrol blending rollout

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nepal's Bureau of Standards & Metrology has drafted a standard for ethanol to be blended with gasoline, setting quality control and storage requirements.
  • The proposed standard categorizes ethanol production and prohibits harmful denaturants, requiring a minimum purity of 99.5% for blending.
  • This move supports the government's goal to boost local production, create jobs, and reduce imported fuel dependence, following a cabinet decision in January 2026.

Nepal is moving to establish clear standards for ethanol production as it prepares to introduce ethanol-blended petrol. The Nepal Bureau of Standards & Metrology has released a draft standard that outlines strict requirements for storage, labeling, and quality control.

The proposed standard categorizes ethanol based on its production source and technology. It mandates secure storage in leak-proof containers, detailing essential information like producer details, batch number, and production method. Crucially, the draft prohibits the use of harmful substances such as methanol, turpentine, ketones, and tar as denaturants, which can damage vehicle engines and fuel systems. Ethanol intended for blending must achieve a minimum purity level of 99.5 percent.

We have already made the draft public for suggestions and feedback. We will finalise it after incorporating relevant recommendations.

— Prabhat Kumar SinghDeputy director general and spokesperson of the department, explaining the process for finalizing the ethanol standard.

Prabhat Kumar Singh, deputy director general and spokesperson for the bureau, stated that the draft is open for public comment to ensure it is practical and effective before final approval. The standard will be implemented after endorsement by the industry minister.

This initiative follows a January 2026 Cabinet decision to approve the "Order on the Use of Ethanol Blended Petrol, 2026," which came into force in March 2026. The government aims to promote domestic ethanol production from local raw materials, generate employment, and lessen reliance on imported petrol. The Nepal Oil Corporation will be required to blend up to 10 percent ethanol into petrol, with the ratio adjustable by the Cabinet. The order also restricts the use of edible grains for ethanol production to safeguard food security, favoring materials like molasses, agricultural waste, and biomass.

The standard will come into effect only after approval from a meeting chaired by the industry minister.

— Prabhat Kumar SinghDeputy director general and spokesperson of the department, detailing the final approval process for the ethanol standard.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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