Centre Asks States to Crack Down on Fuel Adulteration Amid E20 Concerns

The Centre has asked state chief secretaries to ensure strict action against fuel adulteration and any lapses in the ethanol-blended petrol supply chain, as concerns continue over the quality and compatibility of E20 petrol.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said any procedural lapse must be dealt with firmly. It called for “an iron hand against any instance of adulteration” and said there should be zero tolerance for practices that compromise fuel quality.

The direction was included in a question-and-answer note issued by the ministry to address concerns about the use of E20, particularly in older vehicles. 

However, the ministry did not say that adulteration had been detected across the E20 supply chain. The release also did not provide details of specific cases, inspections or penalties imposed by states. 

The government’s E20 rollout has drawn criticism on social media, particularly over its possible impact on older vehicles designed for E10 or lower ethanol blends. Motorists have raised concerns about reduced mileage, changes in performance and possible damage to fuel-system components. Some posts have also linked vehicle breakdowns to E20. The Petroleum Ministry has described these claims as unverified and misleading. 

The government cited the service experience of Maruti Suzuki vehicles, including older models that were not originally certified for E20, to support its position that the fuel has not caused widespread damage to engines, rubber parts or fuel lines. These figures and conclusions were presented by the ministry; the release did not include the underlying service data.

The government maintained that E20 itself is a tested and regulated fuel. It said ethanol and blended petrol must conform to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications and undergo quality checks at different stages, from the distillery to the depot and the retail outlet.

Centre Seeks to Separate E20 from Adulteration

The ministry’s response seeks to distinguish between concerns related to the approved E20 specification and problems that could arise from adulteration or failures in handling and quality-control procedures.

According to the ministry, a lapse at any stage of the supply chain should not be treated as evidence that the prescribed E20 fuel standard is unsafe.

It said vehicle and fuel testing carried out before the rollout covered engine durability, material compatibility, fuel systems, corrosion resistance, emissions, drivability and performance. Automobile manufacturers, testing agencies, oil companies and technical institutions were involved in the process, it added.

The ministry also said vehicle manufacturers had been aware of the move from E10 to E20 for several years through the ethanol-blending roadmap released in 2021.