Ethanol blending is safe and globally accepted; using E20 won’t void car insurance, government says | Today’s news
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has assured vehicle owners that the use of ethanol-containing petrol (EBP) will not invalidate their insurance claims. “Ethanol blending is a globally accepted practice and has been successfully implemented in several countries, including the United States, Brazil and Japan,” the ministry said in an official release.
Ethanol Blended Gasoline is not sugar cane juice
The petroleum ministry also warned against other misleading claims on social media, including sugarcane juice being mixed directly with petrol. “Such content is misleading and unsubstantiated. Ethanol used for fuel blending is produced by established industrial processes and meets strict quality specifications before being mixed with gasoline,” he said.
“Ethanol is produced from a variety of raw materials such as sugar cane juice, molasses, broken rice and corn, but the properties of ethanol are significantly different from the feedstock as it has gone through a number of processes, including fermentation, which results in the fermentation of the sugars present in the feedstock,” he added.
No sugar in EBP
Regarding the recent viral video showing ants near a vehicle’s fuel tank, the ministry said Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has clarified that the ethanol used to blend petrol is produced through fermentation and distillation processes that eliminate residual sugars from the final product.
“Ethanol fuel contains denaturants that repel insects. There is no identifiable attractant associated with E20 fuel that would cause ants or other insects to cluster around vehicle fuel tank caps. Therefore, claims suggesting a link between E20 fuel and attracting ants have no scientific basis and are not supported by scientific evidence,” it explained.
No widespread engine failure issues
Regarding claims that E20 gasoline affects vehicle performance and engine failure, the ministry said the government is constantly monitoring the implementation in consultation with oil marketing companies, car manufacturers, fuel testing agencies and other stakeholders.
“Since the introduction of E20 gasoline, there have been no reported widespread problems with engine failure or vehicle malfunctions attributable to ethanol blending,” he said.
“It is common knowledge that water entering the fuel tank is undesirable for any fuel, ethanol or otherwise. Modern vehicles are equipped with design features and safety features that prevent water from entering fuel tanks,” the ministry said.
EBP saved ₹1.4 million million crowns.
The oil ministry also said the ethanol blending program helped save the country ₹1.4 million crowns in foreign currency through reduced oil imports. The program also created sustained demand for agricultural raw materials used in ethanol production, boosting farmers’ incomes and strengthening the rural economy.
Ethanol blending plays an important role in increasing India’s energy security, reducing carbon emissions and accelerating the country’s transition to cleaner mobility. The government remains committed to delivering the program in a safe, transparent and consumer-focused manner, driven by scientific evidence and ongoing stakeholder engagement.
