New Delhi: The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) on Wednesday pushed back against a set of claims circulating about E20 petrol — that it damages vehicles, attracts insects, invalidates insurance or involves sugarcane juice being mixed directly into fuel — describing them as "misleading and factually incorrect." The industry body called for the conversation around ethanol-blended petrol to be shaped by scientific evidence, verified data and official clarifications rather than unverified claims.
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ISMA's statement drew on the position of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which has described India's Ethanol Blending Programme as scientifically validated, rigorously tested and continuously monitored in consultation with oil marketing companies, automakers, fuel testing agencies and other stakeholders. The government has said no case of engine failure or vehicle breakdown has been traced to E20 petrol since it was introduced.
Addressing the feedstock claim, the ministry said fuel-grade ethanol is produced through industrial processes such as fermentation and distillation and bears no resemblance to the crop it comes from. It is sourced from sugarcane juice, molasses, broken rice and maize, among others, and has to meet fuel-quality standards before it is blended with petrol.
ISMA said automakers, oil companies and industry bodies, including the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), have publicly stood behind E20, attributing breakdown concerns to "hearsay, misinformation and misunderstanding".
Where mileage variation had been observed, industry representatives said, it was marginal, while the fuel helps lower emissions, cut oil imports, conserve foreign exchange and lift farmer incomes.
"India's ethanol programme is one of the country's most successful examples of aligning energy security, farmer welfare and cleaner mobility," ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani said in the statement. "It is therefore important that public debate is anchored in facts and not fear."
Ballani said E20 had been rolled out through a "calibrated, science-backed process" involving the government, oil marketing companies, automakers and testing agencies, and that assertions the fuel was unsafe or unregulated had no evidence behind them.
"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," he said.
The Ethanol Blending Programme was launched to reduce India's reliance on imported crude oil, bolster energy security and promote cleaner fuels. By the government's estimates, ethanol blending has saved the country more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange through lower crude imports, while creating demand for farm feedstocks and additional income for farmers.
ISMA noted that ethanol blending is not unique to India and is used widely across major economies, including the United States, Brazil and Japan. Brazil has adopted E27 as its standard fuel blend, according to the government.
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The association urged stakeholders, media platforms and citizens to rely on verified sources and official information when discussing ethanol-blended fuel.
