Government’s clarification on E20 petrol: Ethanol blending is a scientific process, ARAI-SIAM has done testing

New Delhi. Amidst the ongoing protests in the country over mixing 20 percent ethanol (E20) in petrol, the Central Government on Saturday said that ethanol blending is not a hasty decision, but it is a program based entirely on scientific testing and a phased process. The government claims that this is a system being adopted globally and it has also been extensively tested.

Experts from the government participated in the press conference of industry experts organized on ethanol blending in Delhi. Vartika Shukla Said that in the year 2013-14 the price of petrol in the country was only 1.5 percent ethanol Was mixed. After this its quantity was increased in a phased manner and now 20 percent ethanol blended petrol (E20) The target has been achieved by December 2025, five years ahead of schedule.

He said that the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP) was implemented in the year 2018 after detailed discussions with all the stakeholders. The program is based entirely on scientific evidence and is also supported by the automobile industry.

ARAI and SIAM have done testing

Vartika Shukla told that Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) And Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Major organizations like have done large scale testing of E20 fuel. He said that ethanol blending is in line with the ‘Global Best Practice’ being adopted across the world and aims to reduce carbon emissions by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Why is there opposition to E20 petrol?

In the country, especially the owners of petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023 are opposing E20 petrol. He says that due to use of this fuel, mileage is decreasing, maintenance cost is increasing and some parts of the engine are being affected. However, the government says that ethanol blended petrol may cause a slight reduction in mileage, but it improves engine efficiency and vehicle performance.

Bhutan refuses to accept E20 petrol

Here, amidst the debate regarding E20 petrol in India, neighboring countries bhutan The news of not taking E20 petrol from Indian Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has also come to light. However, detailed reasons in this regard have not been made public at the official level.