New Delhi: The Government of India on Friday asserted that the country's E20 ethanol blending programme, under which petrol contains up to 20 per cent ethanol, is backed by scientific studies, international experience and regulatory safeguards. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a 10-point clarification, rejecting claims ranging from excessive water consumption and engine damage to insurance invalidation and environmental harm.
In its clarification, the ministry said the E20 programme is supported by scientific evidence, global experience and established regulatory mechanisms.
Rejecting claims that producing one litre of ethanol consumes 10,000 litres of water, the ministry said only surplus rice, cleared 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 adopting Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems to recycle water.
The ministry also said maize, which now accounts for 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 (MSP).
The government dismissed assertions that E20 is an untested fuel, noting that ethanol-blended fuels have been used internationally for decades. It cited countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Thailand, Japan and several European nations that have adopted ethanol blending at varying levels.
Addressing concerns over vehicle performance, the ministry said trials led by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) covering about 40,000 kilometres in passenger cars and 20,000 kilometres 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.
Responding to allegations that E20 damages engines or corrodes vehicle components, the ministry cited studies conducted by ARAI in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
The studies found no issues relating to drivability or the compatibility of metal and plastic components, although certain rubber parts in older vehicles may require earlier replacement.
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.
Responding to viral social media posts claiming that ants and bees are attracted to E20 fuel because it contains sugar, the ministry said fuel-grade ethanol undergoes distillation that removes residual sugars and contains denaturants that repel insects. It added that petrol's hydrocarbon odour dominates the blended fuel.
The government further denied claims that it had described the E20 programme as an "experiment" before the Supreme Court, saying the court proceedings related to contractual provisions governing ethanol procurement and not to the merits of the blending programme.
It cited a clarification issued by the Office of the Attorney General, stating that media reports suggesting otherwise were inaccurate.
The ministry also dismissed claims that E20 allows water to enter vehicle fuel tanks, saying modern vehicles and fuel retail infrastructure are equipped with safeguards to prevent water ingress.
It similarly described viral videos purportedly showing sugarcane juice being mixed with petrol as fabricated, saying fuel-grade 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, must comply with groundwater regulations and are mandated to operate Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems.
It added that the ethanol blending programme has helped save more than ₹1.9 lakh crore in foreign exchange, facilitated payments exceeding ₹1.6 lakh crore to farmers, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by around 930 lakh metric tonnes, and displaced more than 310 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil imports since 2014-15.
India achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol in December 2025, ahead of schedule, after blending levels rose from around 1.5 per cent in 2013-14, the ministry said.
It added that the country's installed ethanol production capacity has reached around 2,000 crore litres, with procurement projected to exceed 1,200 crore litres during the 2025-26 ethanol supply year.
