Ethanol Blended Petrol Are Safe: Center Clarifies
Delhi/Hyderabad, Aug 5 (Maxim News): The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has given detailed clarification stating that 20 percent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) is safe and added that the E20 fuel effect will not have any effect on the efficiency of older vehicles. It also stated that all those fears are baseless. It has been revealed that the scientific evidence is not in line with expert analysis.
The Ministry said that there are no engine problems with ethanol-blended petrol. It said that ethanol will reduce carbon emissions and improve the rural economy. Ethanol has a lower energy density compared to petrol. It said that although there is a decrease in mileage due to this, it is very minor. It said that in a test conducted on vehicles filled with conventional and E20 fuel for 1 lakh km, there was no significant difference in power, torque and fuel efficiency. In observations by the Automotive Research Association of India, the Indian Institute of Petroleum and the Indian oil corporation, it was said that there was no sign of engine damage with this blended fuel.
It said that India has been able to save Rs. 1.40 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014-2015 due to the inclusion of E20. At the same time, it said that Rs. 1.20 lakh crore has reached the farmers, through the ethanol procurement program and jobs have been created. It said that the argument that the switch to E20 was sudden and that not everyone was aware of it is incorrect. It said that the details related to this have been available since 2021.
The Center had announced in March this year that public sector oil marketing companies had achieved the target of blending 10 percent ethanol in petrol by June 2022, five months ahead of schedule. The Ethanol Supply Year (ESY).
The Centre had announced in march this year that public sector oil marketing companies had achieved the target of blending 10 per cent ethanol in petrol by June 2022. two months ahead of schedule. The Ethanol Supply year is usually between November to October. It reached 12.06 per cent by ESY 2022-23, 14.60 percent by ESY 2023-24 and 17.98 percent between November to February in ESY 2024-25. It reached 19.68 per cent in February 2025 itself. The target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol was initially set to be achieved by 2030, but in 2022 it was revised to 2025-26 ESY. Meanwhile, the global transportation sector is currently facing challenges such as depletion of fossil fuels, volatility in crude oil prices, and strict environmental regulations. The world today considers ethanol as the most suitable alternative transportation fuel due to its improved fuel quality and environmental benefits. (Maxim News)
