New Delhi, June 23: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reaffirmed on Tuesday that the country’s ethanol blending program for petrol is scientifically validated and continuously monitored by the central government.
In a statement, the ministry noted, “The central government has observed misleading and unfounded claims regarding ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) circulating on social media, seemingly aimed at confusing and misleading the public.”
The statement further highlighted that outdated images and videos are being shared again to sensationalize the issue and create unnecessary concerns about ethanol-blended fuel.
Initiated in 2003, the ethanol blending program aims to reduce crude oil imports, enhance energy security, and promote environmentally sustainable practices. This program has been implemented in phases based on technical readiness and stakeholder consultations, with a 20% ethanol blending (E20) rollout starting in 2023.
The central government continuously monitors the implementation of the ethanol blending program in collaboration with oil marketing companies, automobile manufacturers, fuel testing agencies, and other stakeholders.
Since the introduction of E20 petrol, no significant issues such as engine failures or vehicle breakdowns have been reported due to ethanol blending.
The statement also addressed claims related to ethanol’s hygroscopic nature, which refers to its ability to absorb moisture. It is common knowledge that water entering any fuel tank, whether ethanol-blended or not, is undesirable.
Modern vehicles are designed with features and safety measures that prevent water from entering the fuel tank.
Additionally, some individuals are creating and sharing misleading videos that incorrectly depict sugarcane juice being mixed directly with petrol. The intent behind spreading such videos appears to be sensationalism and increasing viewership.
The ministry emphasized that such content is misleading and unfounded, as the ethanol used for fuel blending is produced through established industrial processes and meets stringent quality standards before being mixed with petrol.
The statement clarified, “Ethanol can be derived from various raw materials (feedstock), such as sugarcane juice, molasses, broken rice, and corn. However, the properties of ethanol differ significantly from the raw materials used, as it undergoes multiple processes, including fermentation, which converts the sugars present in the raw material. Ethanol-blended fuel in India meets strict quality requirements and undergoes rigorous testing before use. The implementation of higher blending levels is conducted only after extensive technical evaluation and discussions with automobile manufacturers and other stakeholders.”
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