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Informist, Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

 

MUMBAI – The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association dismissed recent claims of E20 petrol, or petrol blended with 20% ethanol, attracting insects, damaging vehicles, and invalidating insurance as factually incorrect. It also urged that public discourse around the biofuel be guided by scientific evidence and verified data.

 

"Claims suggesting that ethanol-blended petrol is unsafe, unregulated, or harmful to vehicles are not supported by evidence," ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani said. "Misinformation of this nature risks undermining a programme that has helped India reduce crude import dependence, save foreign exchange, and create value for the rural economy."

 

India's ethanol-blending programme has saved the country INR 1.4 trillion in foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports and boosted the rural economy through sustained demand for agricultural feedstocks for producing ethanol, according to the government.

 

Globally, the US, Brazil, and Japan have implemented ethanol blending in petrol, ISMA said, adding that the standard fuel in Brazil is E27, or 27% ethanol-blended petrol.

 

ISMA said claims of oil companies mixing sugarcane juice instead of ethanol with petrol are misleading. The petroleum ministry has clarified that fuel-grade ethanol is produced through established industrial processes such as fermentation and distillation and bears no resemblance to the original agricultural feedstock such as sugarcane juice, molasses, broken rice, and maize.

 

Acknowleding E20's fuel inefficiency, ISMA said "marginal" mileage variations were observed but highlighted the biofuel's contribution in reducing carbon emission and ensuring energy security. It said concerns around vehicle breakdown are based on hearsay, misinformation, and misunderstanding.  End

 

Reported by Somen Bose

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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