“There is no immediate plan to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond 20 percent,” said Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
To reduce the country’s dependence on imported crude oil for petrol and diesel consumption, the central government has been promoting the supply of ethanol-blended petrol. Ethanol blending in petrol has been gradually increased, and 20 percent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) is now being distributed across the country in most places.
Complaints had emerged that the use of this E20 petrol was affecting vehicle performance. However, the central government categorically denied those complaints.
Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Road Transport on Monday issued a notification amending the Motor Vehicles Rules to allow vehicles running on 85 percent ethanol-blended petrol (E85) (85% ethanol, 15% petrol) and vehicles that run on 100 percent ethanol (flex-fuel vehicles), as well as vehicles running on P100 bio-diesel, hydrogen-CNG blends, and similar fuels.
Following this notification, concern has arisen among motorists over whether the ethanol blending ratio in regular petrol will also be increased.
Regarding this, journalists asked Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who inaugurated a seminar titled “Accelerating Energy Innovation from Research to Commercialization” held on Tuesday in Pedul village, Goa.
Responding to this, he said: False information is being spread about biofuels, including E20 petrol. Information is being circulated on social media that vehicle performance has been affected and that they have broken down. All of these are fabricated stories.
A person had filed a complaint claiming that the engine had been damaged due to the use of E20 petrol and had sought compensation. At the same time, the said vehicle manufacturer has filed a case against that person.
Every day, 6 crore vehicles go to fuel stations. Therefore, if the engine is affected by the use of E20 petrol, vehicles should have broken down in all parts of the country.
It has been found that only some problems arise in older vehicles due to the use of E20 petrol. In particular, only vehicles manufactured before 2003 are likely to face some issues.
Moreover, there were complaints that there were some problems in transporting this E20 petrol. It appears that this may have happened because these tankers, which were used to transport fuel, were also used for some other purposes.
As far as biofuel is concerned, the central government’s target was only a 20 percent ethanol blend. Therefore, he said that the central government has no immediate plan to increase the ethanol blending level in petrol beyond 20 percent.
Paid campaign: Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that the information being spread against ‘E20’ petrol, which contains 20 percent ethanol, is a paid campaign.
Speaking at an event organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry in Delhi on Tuesday, he further said, “Three months ago, there were huge complaints against E20 petrol. Now, all of them have stopped. Because all these complaints were paid campaigns.
Complaints are being raised on social media that roads in some sections of the national highways are in very poor condition. There will be no compromise on the quality of the highways. I assure you that within the next 2 years, there will be no inconvenience for those driving on the national highways,” he said.
