Ethanol Body BIEPA Disputes E20 Damage Claims, Cites Data

The Bharat Independent Ethanol Producers Association (BIEPA) on Monday said claims circulating on social media that link E20 petrol to engine damage, reduced mileage and excessive water use are not backed by scientific evidence, industry testing or real-world data.

In a statement, the association said the spread of unverified and conflicting information about E20 has created confusion among consumers, even as India's nationwide ethanol blending rollout continues to deliver economic, environmental and energy-security gains. BIEPA urged consumers to rely on information from the government, vehicle manufacturers, oil marketing companies and scientific bodies rather than on unverified social media posts.

Citing the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, BIEPA said the Ethanol Blended Petrol programme has helped India save more than ₹1.90 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014-15 by cutting crude oil imports. The programme has also created demand for agricultural by-products such as maize, broken rice, molasses and sugarcane, the association said, benefiting rural livelihoods alongside energy security.

BIEPA President Pushpinder Singh said the ethanol programme rests on years of scientific research and testing carried out jointly by the government, oil marketing companies, automakers and ethanol producers. He said consumers should trust the quality and safety of E20 fuel sold nationally, and cautioned that misinformation creates needless anxiety while undermining a programme that supports the country's energy security and farmers.

Addressing specific concerns, BIEPA said no credible study or official investigation has linked government-approved E20 fuel to widespread engine failures, noting that manufacturers, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and oil marketing companies continue to test and monitor its performance. On fuel economy, the association acknowledged that E20 carries slightly lower energy content per litre than pure petrol but said its higher octane rating aids combustion efficiency, limiting mileage variation to roughly 2-6% under normal driving conditions.

On water use, BIEPA said modern ethanol plants rely on recycling, condensate recovery and zero-liquid-discharge systems to limit freshwater consumption, and that the programme increasingly draws on agricultural surpluses rather than crops grown solely for fuel. The association added that using BIS-compliant E20 from authorised outlets does not void vehicle warranties or insurance policies.

BIEPA also noted that ethanol-blended fuels are already in wide use elsewhere, citing Brazil's E30 blend, E15-E18 blends in the United States, and biodiesel use in Indonesia, as part of a broader global shift toward biofuels. The association called on consumers, industry, policymakers and media to work together in promoting factual, science-based information about the ethanol blending programme.