The Centre has pushed back against a series of viral social media claims around E20 petrol, saying India’s ethanol blending programme is backed by scientific validation, fuel-quality testing and continuous monitoring.
The clarification comes amid online videos and posts claiming that ethanol-blended petrol may damage engines, attract ants near fuel tanks, affect vehicle insurance or involve direct mixing of sugarcane juice with petrol.
In a statement on Tuesday, 23 June, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said several such claims are misleading, unsubstantiated and, in some cases, based on old images and videos being recirculated to create public concern.
“The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reiterates that the Ethanol Blending Programme is scientifically validated and continuously monitored by the Government,” the ministry said.
The ministry said India’s Ethanol Blending Programme was launched in 2003 with the objective of reducing crude oil imports, improving energy security and promoting environmental sustainability.
The rollout has been carried out in phases after technical preparedness and stakeholder consultations.
The 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol, commonly known as E20, has been rolled out from 2023 onwards.
One of the major concerns being circulated online relates to possible engine failure or vehicle breakdowns due to E20 petrol.
The ministry rejected any suggestion of widespread problems linked to ethanol blending.
“Since the introduction of E20 petrol, no widespread issues of engine failure or vehicle breakdown attributable to ethanol blending have been reported,” the ministry statement said.
The ministry also addressed claims related to the hygroscopic nature of ethanol, which means its tendency to absorb moisture.
It said water entry into fuel tanks is undesirable for any fuel, whether ethanol-blended or not.
Modern vehicles, according to the statement, are designed with safeguards to prevent water from entering the fuel tank.
Another set of viral videos has claimed that sugarcane juice is being directly mixed with petrol.
The ministry called such content misleading and baseless.
It clarified that fuel-grade ethanol is not raw sugarcane juice, and is produced through industrial processes such as fermentation and distillation and has to meet strict quality specifications before it is blended with petrol.
The government also referred to a recently circulated video showing ants near a vehicle fuel tank.
According to the ministry, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited had clarified that fuel-grade ethanol does not contain residual sugars after processing.
It also contains denaturants that repel insects, and there is no scientific basis to link E20 petrol with ant attraction.
The ministry further said claims suggesting that the use of E20 petrol could affect vehicle insurance validity had also been clarified by stakeholders and found to be incorrect.
The ministry defended ethanol blending as a globally accepted fuel practice, pointing to countries such as the United States, Brazil and Japan.
Brazil, for instance, has long used higher ethanol blending levels, with E27 being the standard petrol blend.
Beyond the misinformation debate, the government said the programme has delivered economic and environmental benefits.
According to the ministry, ethanol blending has helped India save more than ₹1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports. It has also created demand for agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcane juice, molasses, broken rice and maize, supporting farmers and the rural economy.
The ministry said ethanol blending remains important for India’s energy security, lower carbon emissions and transition towards cleaner mobility.
It added that the programme will continue to be implemented in a safe, transparent and consumer-focused manner, guided by scientific evidence and stakeholder engagement.
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