India dismisses social media claims that E20 ethanol petrol damages engines or increases pollution
bizzbuzz.newsIndia's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has rejected viral social media claims that E20 ethanol-blended petrol damages vehicle engines or increases pollution. The government released a factsheet citing joint research from Indian Oil, ARAI, IIP Dehradun, and SIAM showing that E20 fuel cuts carbon monoxide emissions by 50 percent in two-wheelers and 30 percent in four-wheelers. Unburnt hydrocarbon discharges also dropped by roughly 20 percent. The Ministry labeled the online rumors as baseless and scientifically unverified. The government also addressed claims about insects being attracted to fuel tanks, noting that industrial distillation removes residual sugars and denaturants act as insect repellents. SIAM confirmed that automakers will honor all active vehicle warranties for E20 use. The factsheet emphasized that ethanol's biogenic carbon means it cycles existing carbon rather than adding new emissions. This policy supports India's broader push to blend 20 percent ethanol into petrol by 2025, reducing oil imports and cutting transport emissions.