No ethanol in ATF: Govt rejects Kejriwal’s allegations and calls them irresponsible
The political war over India’s ethanol blending programme escalated on Thursday after Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya strongly dismissed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal claim that the Centre plans to introduce ethanol blending in diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF).
Naidu, in a post on X, dismissed claims that it is planning to blend ethanol with aviation turbine fuel (ATF), calling the reports “completely false and irresponsible” and urging people not to spread misinformation on aviation safety. He said there is “no such proposal” under consideration by the Government.”
“The claim that the Government plans to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) is completely false and irresponsible. There is no such proposal,” Naidu said. He clarified that ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are “entirely different” fuels and should not be confused with one another.
The exchange comes after Kejriwal alleged that the Centre was planning to increase ethanol blending beyond current levels, claimed there were plans to mix ethanol into Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), and accused the Government of suppressing scientific concerns over E20 petrol. Kejriwal urged people to avoid purchasing new petrol and diesel vehicles for the time being. In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal alleged the Government planned to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond 50 per cent after introducing E20 fuel.
Explaining the distinction, Naidu said SAF is an internationally certified aviation fuel recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and has been adopted globally. He added that it undergoes rigorous testing and meets stringent international safety standards before being approved for use.
“Ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are entirely different and should not be conflated. SAF is an internationally certified aviation fuel recognised by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and adopted globally. It undergoes rigorous testing and meets stringent global safety standards,” he said.
The minister also cautioned against circulating misleading claims related to aviation, saying such misinformation only creates unnecessary anxiety among air travellers.” Spreading misinformation on aviation safety only creates needless anxiety among air travellers. Passenger safety remains the Government’s highest priority,” he said. Slamming Kejriwal, Malviya said spreading “fake news” and creating undue “panic” is his “old habit”, and asserted that the Centre has clearly stated that there was no decision on ethanol mixing beyond E20.
Former Delhi chief minister, replying to Malviya, alleged that the Government is waiting for the situation to calm down before implementing further ethanol blending in fuel. “Just like E20 was implemented without any scientific study, without listening to anyone, by silencing everyone through threats, you’ll implement E50 in the same way,” Kejriwal said, alleging this was the Government’s “style of functioning” without respecting science, engineering and technology. He challenged Malviya to publicly release any study conducted before implementing E20 petrol.
Malviya hit back in another post on X, saying Kejriwal’s entire argument was based not on facts but “fear”. “First, the Government has clearly stated that no decision has been taken to increase ethanol blending beyond E20. Raising a debate on some imaginary E50 is nothing but politics of spreading fear,” he replied to Kejriwal.
He refuted the AAP leader’s charge, stating it is completely wrong to say that E20 was implemented “without any scientific study”. In another post on X, Malviya claimed E20 is not a hasty decision and the country’s ethanol blending programme has been progressing in a phased manner for over two decades. He said before implementing E20, extensive testing and consultations with all relevant parties were conducted.
