‘Safe, Consumer-Friendly, Economically Beneficial’: Centre Debunks Viral Claims On E20 Fuel

Published 24 June 2026 · india

‘Safe, Consumer-Friendly, Economically Beneficial’: Centre Debunks Viral Claims On E20 Fuel Published By, Last Updated: June 24, 2026, 10:14 IST The ministry noted that ethanol

‘Safe, Consumer-Friendly, Economically Beneficial’: Centre Debunks Viral Claims On E20 Fuel Published By, Last Updated: June 24, 2026, 10:14 IST The ministry noted that ethanol blending is a globally accepted practice and is widely used in countries such as the United States, Brazil and Japan. Rapid Read India set a target of 20 per cent blending (E20) by 2030 and later advanced it to 2025-26. (PTI) The Union Government has dismissed what it called misleading and unsubstantiated claims circulating on social media about ethanol-blended petrol, E20 fuel asserting that India’s Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) is safe, consumer-friendly, and economically beneficial, scientifically validated and closely monitored by the government. In a statement, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said misleading and unsubstantiated claims regarding Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) were being circulated on social media, including allegations that E20 fuel could cause vehicle damage or impact insurance coverage. The ministry said such claims had been examined and clarified with relevant stakeholders and were found to be incorrect. It added that no widespread incidents of engine failure or vehicle breakdown linked to ethanol blending have been reported since the rollout of E20 petrol.

The Government of India has noted certain misleading and unsubstantiated claims being circulated on social media regarding Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP), which appear to be aimed at confusing and misleading the public. It has also been observed that old images and videos are being… pic.twitter.com/FQjwEvMI59— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2026 The government also rejected viral social media content suggesting that sugarcane juice is directly mixed with petrol or that E20 fuel attracts insects. It explained that fuel-grade ethanol is produced through established industrial processes and undergoes strict quality checks before blending with petrol. Referring to a widely shared video showing ants near a vehicle fuel tank, the ministry cited clarification from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), which stated that fuel ethanol contains no residual sugars and includes denaturants that repel insects. Claims linking E20 fuel to ant attraction have no scientific basis, it said. “Recently, a video showing ants near a vehicle fuel tank was widely circulated on social media. In response, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) clarified that fuel-grade ethanol used for petrol blending is produced through fermentation and distillation processes that eliminate residual sugars from the final product.