Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday dismissed social media concerns over ethanol-blended fuel, labelling claims that E20 petrol attracts pests or damages vehicle engines as "rumours" and urging the public to rely on scientific evidence.
Puri Welcomes Constructive Criticism
Addressing the media in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Puri said the government remains open to constructive criticism but rejected what he described as misinformation about biofuel blending. "Over the past few days, you may have noticed a stir on social media regarding biofuel blending. I welcome criticism. If you feel there are shortcomings in the work we are doing, please point them out, and we will listen to you; we will incorporate your suggestions into our work and make the necessary corrections," the minister stated.
"However, consider the rumours that were being spread: first, that using ethanol would attract pests; second, that using ethanol would cause the engine to fail or get damaged, or cause the fuel pump to stop working," he added.
Ethanol Technology Not New
Puri emphasised that ethanol is not a new technology and has been used globally for decades. "We did not invent the concept of ethanol usage; work on this has been going on for a century. Henry Ford, the owner of the Ford Motor Company, drove cars using biofuels, kerosene, and fossil fuels back in his day," Puri said.
He also noted that India's ethanol blending programme predates the current government, recalling that the initiative was first conceived during the previous Congress-led government. "As for India, the Congress government was the first to formulate a plan for this. I recall my time as Ambassador to Brazil—specifically between 2006 and 2008. Sharad Pawar was the Agriculture Minister around that time. We had set a target of achieving 5 per cent biofuel blending across ten states and union territories, though we were unable to meet it—we stalled at 1.4 per cent," he said.
Government's Push for Ethanol Blending
The Centre has been promoting ethanol blending as part of its strategy to reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions, and support the domestic agricultural economy. The government has accelerated the rollout of E20 petrol, containing 20 per cent ethanol, across the country after conducting compatibility testing with automobile manufacturers and research agencies.
Puri's remarks come amid recent social media posts raising concerns over the use of E20 fuel and its impact on vehicle performance. The minister urged people to rely on scientific evidence rather than misinformation, reiterating the government's commitment to evidence-based policy.
