India, April 23 -- The government is considering E100 fuel blending and a transition to flex-fuel vehicles to reduce India's dependence on imported crude, senior officials said on Wednesday, while also announcing that the Centre has allowed blending in aviation fuel.

The steps come amid a growing energy crisis triggered by the war in West Asia, which has choked supplies of crude oil and gas.

Giving a daily update on the energy supply situation, petroleum ministry joint secretary Sujata Sharma said the government has allowed blends of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), produced from used cooking oil or ethanol. She was referring to the ministry's gazette notification published on Tuesday.

The notification legally defines aviation turbine ...