The Government of India has pushed back against what it called misleading and unsubstantiated social media claims about Ethanol Blended Petrol, saying the country’s ethanol blending programme is scientifically validated, closely monitored and implemented after technical evaluation.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said old images and videos were being recirculated online to create “unwarranted concerns” about ethanol-blended fuel, particularly E20 petrol, which contains 20 per cent ethanol. The ministry said such posts appeared aimed at confusing consumers and attracting viewership through sensationalism — a familiar fuel for the social media engine.
India’s Ethanol Blending Programme was launched in 2003 to reduce crude oil imports, improve energy security and support environmental sustainability. The programme has been rolled out in phases following technical preparedness and consultations with stakeholders, leading to the introduction of E20 petrol from 2023 onwards.
According to the government, the implementation of ethanol blending is continuously monitored in consultation with oil marketing companies, automobile manufacturers, fuel testing agencies and other stakeholders. Since the introduction of E20 petrol, the ministry said, no widespread engine failures or vehicle breakdowns attributable to ethanol blending have been reported.
The ministry also addressed concerns over ethanol’s hygroscopic nature, or its tendency to absorb moisture. It said water entering a fuel tank is undesirable for any fuel, whether ethanol-blended or not. Modern vehicles, it added, are equipped with design features and safeguards to prevent water entry into fuel tanks.
The government further rejected videos claiming that sugarcane juice is mixed directly with petrol. Such content, the ministry said, is misleading and baseless. Fuel-grade ethanol is produced through industrial processes and must meet strict quality specifications before being blended with petrol.
Ethanol can be made from feedstocks such as sugarcane juice, molasses, broken rice and maize. However, the final ethanol used for fuel blending is chemically different from the original feedstock after undergoing processes such as fermentation and distillation.
The ministry also referred to a recently circulated video showing ants near a vehicle fuel tank. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited clarified that fuel-grade ethanol used in petrol blending is produced through fermentation and distillation, which eliminate residual sugars from the final product. It also said fuel ethanol contains denaturants that are repellent to insects.
BPCL said there is no identifiable attractant in E20 fuel that would cause ants or other insects to gather near vehicle fuel caps. Claims linking E20 fuel to ant attraction, it said, have no scientific basis and are not supported by scientific evidence.
The government also said claims that E20 petrol could affect vehicle insurance validity had been clarified by concerned stakeholders and found to be incorrect.
Ethanol blending is widely used in several countries, including the United States, Brazil and Japan. Brazil has long adopted higher ethanol blending levels, with E27 used as the standard petrol blend.
The government said India’s ethanol blending programme has helped save more than ₹1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports. It has also created sustained demand for agricultural feedstocks used in ethanol production, supporting farmers’ incomes and strengthening the rural economy.
The ministry said ethanol blending remains an important part of India’s efforts to improve energy security, reduce carbon emissions and move towards cleaner mobility. As the programme expands, the government’s larger challenge will be to keep the science clear, the fuel reliable and the public conversation from running on rumours.
