Amid concerns over misinformation about ethanol-blended petrol, the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) emphasized the importance of basing discussions on E20 fuel on scientific evidence and official clarifications rather than unverified claims circulating on social media. ISMA clarified that recent assertions about E20 petrol causing vehicle damage, attracting insects, invalidating insurance policies, or involving direct mixing of sugarcane juice with petrol are misleading and factually incorrect. India’s Ethanol Blending Programme, as per ISMA, has been scientifically validated, rigorously tested, and continuously monitored in consultation with various stakeholders.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued clarifications supporting the Ethanol Blending Programme, stating that no incidents of engine failure or vehicle breakdown linked to E20 petrol have been reported since its introduction. ISMA highlighted that fuel-grade ethanol undergoes industrial processes like fermentation and distillation from feedstocks such as sugarcane juice, molasses, broken rice, and maize, meeting stringent fuel-quality standards before blending with petrol. Addressing concerns on vehicle performance, the industry emphasized that apprehensions about E20 are based on misinformation and misunderstanding, according to automobile manufacturers and industry bodies.
ISMA’s Director General, Deepak Ballani, stressed the success of India’s ethanol programme in aligning energy security, farmer welfare, and cleaner mobility, urging that public debates focus on facts rather than fear. The ethanol blending programme has notably reduced India’s reliance on imported crude oil, enhanced energy security, and provided additional income sources for farmers, saving over Rs 1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange through reduced crude oil imports, as per official estimates. ISMA also noted the global usage of ethanol-blended fuel, with countries like the United States, Brazil, and Japan incorporating such blends, with Brazil adopting E27 as its standard petrol blend.
