Bhutan not importing E20 fuel from India, says ‘high chance of major engine problems if…’ | Today’s news
Bhutan will not be importing E20 petrol from India anytime soon, its commerce ministry said last week, according to a local report.
The Bhutanese have claimed that Indian Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have offered to supply E20 petrol to Bhutan, but Bhutan has so far resisted.
Why Bhutan does not want to import E20 fuel
The report pointed to concerns raised by critics in India about vehicle breakdowns and reduced mileage.
It also quoted the Department of Commerce as saying that unlike normal MS (gasoline), gasoline blended with ethanol contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) which makes it hygroscopic in nature, meaning it is easily absorbed and mixes with water.
Once water contaminates ethanol-blended fuel, the water and fuel cannot be easily separated, which is likely to affect fuel quality and vehicle performance.
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“Furthermore, given the current condition and quality of several underground storage tanks maintained by fuel vendors, the importation and handling of ethanol-laced fuel may present challenges in ensuring fuel quality and preventing contamination,” the Bhutanese quoted the ministry as saying.
“There is a high probability of major engine problems if…”
The official told the media that many fuel tanks in Bhutan are very old. Due to their age and the Himalayan terrain, it is expected that there may be some water seepage into the fuel tanks.
The official said that when E20 is stored in such tanks, the ethanol component of the fuel absorbs water, which dilutes the fuel and changes its chemical composition.
The official added that in such a scenario, there is a high chance of major engine problems and the vehicle may even fail. He reportedly said it would quickly become a public issue and then a media issue.
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An official from Tashi BOD, the country’s largest distributor of the fuel, also said that currently fuel stations in Bhutan cannot process ethanol due to water seepage that would destroy the fuel.
He further argued that E20 is particularly unsuitable for hilly terrain such as that of Bhutan due to problems with groundwater and seepage.
Even without these concerns, vehicles require more power on hills and the E20 will not provide optimal performance.
Request for delivery of regular gasoline
The Ministry further informed that in view of these concerns, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)/OMCs in India have been asked during technical meetings to continue supplying regular petrol to Bhutan until such fuel is available in the Indian market.
“Even if India moves to higher levels of ethanol blending or possibly adopts fully ethanol blended petrol, Bhutan has requested to be informed in advance,” said a statement shared by a local news outlet.
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He added: “This would allow fuel retailers, in collaboration with PSUs/OMCs, sufficient time to upgrade their underground storage tank infrastructure and associated fuel handling systems to ensure leak-proof and leak-proof storage facilities capable of safely handling ethanol fuels.”
Asked how Bhutan could know if OMCs sent E20 to Bhutan, intentionally or by mistake, the official told the Bhutanese that it would be evident even without testing, as the fuel would go silent if even a small amount of water got into it.
He said this would likely happen given Bhutan’s fuel tanks have some leakage.
Why Bhutan needs advance notification before accepting E20 fuel
The official said that if Bhutan is ever mandated to receive E20 fuel, advance notice must be given to allow enough time to overhaul the entire fuel storage and transportation system.
It said that all underground fuel tanks in Bhutan would have to be replaced and that measures would have to be taken to prevent leaks.
He added that Indian OMCs should provide leak-proof tanks.
Read also | Your vehicle gets new petrol today as India implements the E20 fuel mandate
The official said Bhutan currently buys higher export grade petrol and diesel from India, which are priced higher than the fuel sold at petrol stations in India.
E20 in India: Pros and Cons
E20 was introduced in India to reduce oil imports, save billions in foreign exchange and support farmers who grow sugarcane and corn.
Recently, Karnataka Congress president BK Hariprasad questioned the Center over the introduction of 20% ethanol petrol, saying it causes vehicle breakdowns, reduces mileage and increases maintenance costs for consumers.
In a post on X, Hariprasad claimed that motorists across the country are facing widespread problems after the introduction of E20 fuel.
“Widespread reports of vehicle breakdowns and steep declines in mileage following the introduction of 20% ethanol gasoline are leaving countless vehicle owners frustrated and burdened with higher maintenance costs,” he wrote.
“Instead of reducing fuel prices, the Narendra Modi government has increased ethanol blending and passed on the cost to ordinary citizens. If people are paying the same – or more – for fuel, while getting lower mileage and facing repair bills, serious questions need to be answered. This is a scam,” Hariprasad said.
Read also | E20 gasoline mandate: Vehicle owners report increased costs, decreased efficiency
However, Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said India’s ethanol program will play an even bigger role in the coming years in addressing energy security, agrarian challenges and climate goals, with E20 set to become a standard fuel compatible with all vehicles sold after April 2023.
Gulati told ANI that the focus should now be on dispelling consumer misconceptions and scaling up ethanol as a carbon-neutral fuel.
“E20 is the standard fuel that will be available and is compatible with both old and new vehicles,” he said, adding that all vehicles sold after April 1, 2023 are fully materially E20 compliant.
Read also | Mahindra accepts performance hit for use of E20 amid Gadkari’s political claim
He also clarified that higher blends such as E85 and E100 are not intended for regular cars and will require flex-fuel vehicle technology.
Gulati also argued that the idea that E20 will damage vehicles is false.
Citing a 2021 study by ARAI, India’s leading automobile testing agency, he said it “has clearly shown that the potential damage to cars and two-wheelers that are old is non-existent. It is very insignificant.”
For mileage, he acknowledged that there was some loss but “not as great as is being pretended” and put it at 2-4%.
He also dismissed concerns about pollution from ethanol plants, saying all Indian plants require environmental clearances, operate as zero-discharge units and reuse by-products such as bagasse, making them “extremely clean in terms of their processes”.
As for the environmental benefits, Gulati called ethanol “the best fuel if you want to fight climate change” because it’s carbon neutral. “The carbon dioxide is absorbed by the plants as they grow. And when you turn it into fuel and burn it, the carbon dioxide that comes out is actually absorbed back by the plants.”
