Centre reduces export duty on diesel | Representational image The Centre on Thursday reduced the export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for the next fortnight beginning May 1. The export duty (SAED) has been revised from Rs 55.5 per litre to Rs 23 per litre on diesel while on the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from Rs 42 per litre to Rs 33 per litre. Meanwhile, the export duty on Petrol continues to remain nil, the Finance Ministry said. Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) is a flexible tax imposed by the government on select products, mainly domestic crude oil and exported petroleum fuels such as petrol, diesel, and ATF. Finance Ministry also said there is no change in the existing excise duty rates on petrol and diesel cleared for domestic consumption. In April, the Centre had increased export duties on petroleum products, raising the levy on high-speed diesel to Rs 55.5 per litre and on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to Rs 42 per litre. Meanwhile, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry issued a notification on April 22 to align fuel definitions and regulatory provisions with evolving industry standards. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) can now be blended with synthetic fuels under new rules. The move is aimed at bringing clarity to fuel standards amid growing use of alternative and blended aviation fuels. A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) details the amendment to the Aviation Turbine Fuel (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001. Under the new G.S.R. 301(E) notification, the definition of aviation turbine fuel has been expanded. It is now identified as a complex mixture of hydrocarbons conforming to IS 1571 specifications or its blend with synthesised hydrocarbons as specified in IS 17081. Shashwat Bhandari is the Associate Editor at Times Now. With 14 years of experience in the news and media industry, he understands the responsibility ... View More