E20 petrol contamination concerns flagged by automakers disputed by government

A dispute has erupted over India's E20 fuel programme. The Federal reports that internal emails from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed that automakers representing about 67 per cent of India's market had flagged excessive moisture and chloride contamination in E20 petrol samples. Political commentator Tahseen Poonawalla alleged that the concerns, raised over two years, were downplayed to protect investments in ethanol infrastructure, and that pressure was applied to make manufacturers soften their stance.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has defended the fuel. In a statement, it said E20 has undergone extensive testing and validation across engine durability, drivability, material compatibility and corrosion resistance, calling it "tested and validated". The ministry added that real-world mileage depends on driving and vehicle conditions, not fuel type alone. Minister of State Suresh Gopi had earlier acknowledged a marginal 3-5 per cent fuel economy drop in older E10-designed vehicles but said mileage depends more on factors like tyre pressure and AC load.

The Federal reports that SIAM sent a letter on July 28 detailing chloride contamination linked to rising vehicle component failures, and that samples from multiple states showed elevated chloride and moisture levels. Poonawalla demanded that the government make relevant documents public, saying the lack of transparency had created mistrust. The government has not released the disputed data.