Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has strongly defended the use of E20 petrol amid criticism from media reports, automobile experts and vehicle owners. Speaking at an event in Delhi on August 8, he challenged critics to produce even a single example of a vehicle facing issues due to E20 fuel. Gadkari said no such problem has been reported so far, terming the negative claims as part of a “political conspiracy” aimed at discrediting the ethanol blending policy, which began in 2001.
Ministry says E20 safe for all vehicles
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas also released a statement backing E20 fuel. According to the ministry, vehicles have been tested for up to 100,000 kilometres on E20, with checks every 10,000 kilometres, showing no significant difference in power, torque, or mileage. They acknowledged that mileage may drop 1-2% in new vehicles and 3-6% in older ones, but said this is not drastic and can be resolved through engine tuning.
Concerns over older vehicles addressed
Some owners of older vehicles expressed fears that E20 might damage engines or components. The ministry clarified that E20 contains corrosion inhibitors to prevent rusting, and safety standards have been ensured under BIS and Automotive Industry Standards. For older cars, rubber parts or gaskets might need replacement after 20,000–30,000 kilometres, but this is part of routine maintenance and is inexpensive.
Benefits of E20 in economy and environment
Gadkari highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of E20 fuel. He said it reduces pollution, has saved the country over ₹1.40 lakh crore in crude oil imports, and provided more than ₹1.20 lakh crore in payments to farmers. Ethanol’s higher octane number (108.5) compared to petrol (84.4) also benefits modern engines and improves ride quality. He projected that India’s ethanol policy will stabilise in the next 7–8 years, similar to Brazil’s experience over 80 years, and the government aims to achieve 30% ethanol blending (E30) by 2030.
What ethanol is and how it is produced
Ethanol is a type of alcohol made by fermenting starch or sugar, used as an eco-friendly fuel when blended with petrol. Most ethanol in India is made from sugarcane juice, but it can also be produced from corn, spoiled potatoes, cassava, and waste vegetables. First-generation ethanol comes from sugar-rich crops like sugar beet and maize, second-generation from crop residues and woody biomass, and third-generation from algae, which is still under research.
7 pointers in a nutshell:
- Nitin Gadkari says E20 petrol causes no problems in any vehicle so far.
- Challenges critics to provide one real example of vehicle damage.
- Ministry tests show only minor mileage drop, fixable by tuning.
- Corrosion inhibitors in E20 make it safe for old vehicles.
- Policy has saved over ₹1.40 lakh crore in oil imports.
- Farmers have earned ₹1.20 lakh crore from ethanol production.
- Government targets 30% ethanol blending by 2030.
