Centre Rejects Claims of Ethanol Blending in Aviation Fuel

The Story in Brief

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Thursday that the government has no proposal to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel, calling the claim “completely false and irresponsible”. He said ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel are different fuels. SAF is recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and undergoes rigorous safety testing, he added. The clarification followed former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s social media post warning about alleged risks to flights. BJP leader Amit Malviya accused him of spreading panic.

The government has also rejected reports of importing US ethanol for petrol blending. The Commerce Ministry said the Ethanol Blended with Petrol programme uses only domestic producers and that no import concessions were offered in India-US trade talks. Separately, the government says no decision has been taken to raise blending beyond E20. Nitin Gadkari told Parliament that E20 may reduce fuel efficiency by 2-6%, depending on vehicle type and age, but studies found no evidence of engine failures.

The Indian Opinion

Two exaggerated narratives are doing the rounds: that ethanol is about to enter aircraft fuel, and that every E20 concern is either political mischief or proof of unsafe vehicles. The first has been plainly denied by the civil aviation minister, while the second deserves evidence, not slogans. The useful test is transparent publication of vehicle-wise E20 performance data, alongside a clear statement of any future aviation-fuel proposal. Until then, claims about ATF blending should not be treated as policy.

Sources (4): livemint.com, swarajyamag.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, businesstoday.in

This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above.

Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.

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