Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers withdraws letter on E20 fuel contamination concerns

The Story in Brief

Auto industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has withdrawn a letter sent to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas that had flagged concerns about contamination in E20 fuel. SIAM said the communication was part of routine technical deliberations among stakeholders and that some numbers quoted in the communication need authentication through collection of elaborate data from various regions followed by comprehensive consultation with member OEMs, and therefore it was withdrawing the earlier communication. Reports on the now withdrawn letter said investigations had found corrosion or wear linked to high chloride presence in fuel and that chloride was highly detrimental to engine parts.

The withdrawn communication also reportedly flagged excessive moisture in E20 fuel dispensed at retail outlets, saying moisture above 1 per cent can cause separation of fuel and “paralyses the vehicle immediately after fuelling”, and stressed proper maintenance of storage tanks and pipelines. SIAM said MoPNG has instituted 3 ppm guidelines for chloride and sulphur for ethanol being blended into petrol, that OMCs are conducting checks including water ingress testing eight to 12 times a day at over 87,000 outlets and after each rain, and that the automobile industry supports the E20 initiative and sees no cause for concern as these issues have been routinely addressed.

The Indian Opinion

The reporting combines technical claims, industry caution and a political allegation. SIAM’s formal reason for withdrawal – that numbers need regional data and OEM consultation – indicates the findings reported in media may be provisional rather than final. At the same time, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal’s allegation that the Centre forced SIAM to retract the communication is a serious political claim; the article notes there was no immediate response from SIAM or the Centre, so that claim remains unverified. Ordinary readers should note regulator and industry measures cited (3 ppm guidelines and frequent checks) and the absence of published, nationwide verification before treating the initial technical claims as settled fact.

Original article: SIAM withdraws letter flagging concern over E20 contamination (www.siasat.com)

This story was summarised and commented on by AI from the source linked above.