NEW DELHI: The government on Friday issued a detailed rebuttal to misinformation circulating on social media about India’s E20 ethanol blending programme, rejecting claims related to excessive water consumption, engine damage, environmental risks and fuel safety.In a 10-point clarification, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas said the E20 programme, under which petrol contains up to 20 per cent ethanol, is supported by scientific evidence, extensive testing and global best practices.
- Addressing concerns over vehicle performance, the ministry said trials conducted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), covering around 40,000 km in passenger vehicles and 20,000 km in two-wheelers, found no significant adverse impact on drivability or fuel efficiency, with only “marginal” changes in mileage. It added that vehicles calibrated for E20 could benefit from ethanol’s higher octane rating.
- On allegations that E20 damages engines or corrodes vehicle components, the ministry cited studies conducted by ARAI in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation, the Indian Institute of Petroleum and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
- The studies found no issues related to drivability or compatibility of metal and plastic components, although certain rubber parts in older vehicles may require earlier replacement, PTI reported.
- The ministry also rejected claims that the use of E20 fuel could invalidate vehicle warranties or insurance coverage, saying automobile manufacturers and insurers have clarified that vehicles designed or approved for E20 remain covered under applicable warranty and insurance terms.
- Rejecting claims that producing one litre of ethanol requires 10,000 litres of water, the ministry said only surplus rice, approved after meeting national food security requirements, is diverted for ethanol production.
- It added that ethanol distilleries consume around 3-5 litres of processed water per litre of ethanol and are increasingly operating under Zero Liquid Discharge systems that recycle water.
- The ministry also noted that maize, which now contributes more than 40 per cent of ethanol supplied under the programme, requires significantly less irrigation than paddy and is being promoted through higher minimum support prices.
- Dismissing assertions that E20 is an untested fuel, the government said ethanol-blended fuels have been used globally for decades. It cited countries including the United States, Brazil, Canada, Thailand, Japan and several European nations that have adopted ethanol blending at varying levels.
- Responding to viral social media posts claiming that ants and bees are attracted to E20 fuel because it contains sugar, the ministry clarified that fuel-grade ethanol undergoes distillation processes that remove residual sugars and contains denaturants that repel insects. It added that petrol’s hydrocarbon odour remains dominant in the blended fuel.
- The government further denied claims that it had described the E20 programme as an “experiment” before the Supreme Court, saying the proceedings related to contractual provisions governing ethanol procurement and not to the scientific validity of ethanol blending.
- It cited a clarification issued by the Office of the Attorney General, which stated that media reports suggesting otherwise were inaccurate.
- The ministry also dismissed claims that E20 increases the risk of water entering fuel tanks, saying modern vehicles and fuel retail infrastructure have safeguards against water ingress.
- Similarly, it described viral videos allegedly showing sugarcane juice being mixed with petrol as fabricated, noting that fuel ethanol is produced through industrial processes and blended according to prescribed quality standards.
- On environmental concerns, the government said ethanol plants require statutory environmental clearances, are subject to groundwater regulations and must comply with Zero Liquid Discharge norms.
- According to the ministry, the ethanol blending programme has helped save more than Rs 1.9 lakh crore in foreign exchange, enabled payments exceeding Rs 1.6 lakh crore to farmers, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by around 930 lakh metric tonnes and displaced over 310 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil imports since 2014-15.
- The government said India achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol in December 2025, ahead of schedule, with blending levels rising from around 1.5 per cent in 2013-14, PTI reported.
- It added that the country’s installed ethanol production capacity has reached about 2,000 crore litres, while procurement is projected to exceed 1,200 crore litres during the 2025-26 ethanol supply year.
