Now Reading: SIAM withdraws letter flagging E20 fuel contamination within a week
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SIAM withdraws letter flagging E20 fuel contamination within a week
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) wrote to the petroleum secretary on July 28, warning of a 'huge increase' in vehicle component failures linked to high chloride contamination and moisture in…
The Story in Brief
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) wrote to the petroleum secretary on July 28, warning of a 'huge increase' in vehicle component failures linked to high chloride contamination and moisture in E20 fuel. It cited chloride levels up to 500 ppm in samples and urged mandatory quality limits. Less than a week later, on August 4, SIAM withdrew the communication, saying the figures needed authentication through broader data collection. It called the earlier letter part of routine technical discussions and reassured consumers there was no cause for concern.
Rediff.com reports that the U-turn highlights the political sensitivity of India's ethanol blending policy, which the government touts as key to reducing oil imports. Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has said fuel efficiency may drop 2-6% with E20, but testing has not linked it to engine failures. Consumers have complained of lower mileage and maintenance issues, making E20 a politically charged issue.
The Indian Opinion
The ethanol debate pits energy security against consumer trust. The auto industry's rapid retreat suggests political pressure, but that does not erase the reported chloride levels and part failures. Lazy narratives paint this as either a conspiracy against clean fuel or a government cover-up. Neither helps. The real test: will the Bureau of Indian Standards now set mandatory chloride limits, and will oil marketing companies release their own fuel quality data? Those numbers will settle the question, not the withdrawn letter.
Source: rediff.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
