By stating in Parliament that it has not conducted any exercise to determine the volume of vehicles compatible with E20 fuel, the Union government has revealed a clear lack of administrative preparedness. The government has announced that it would go ahead with the proposal for E20 (petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol), maintaining that the fuel is compliant with the country’s existing vehicle standards. It said E15+ petrol has been in use for more than three-and-a-half years and E19-20 for more than two-and-a-half years.  The government claims that 20 crore two-wheelers and more than three crore petrol cars have been using the blended fuel over the past few years without any reported damage to their engines.

It told Parliament that a decision on raising the ethanol component beyond the current 20 per cent would be taken only after scientific and technical studies, and consultation with relevant stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, and research institutions. This promised rigour for the future was missing ahead of the official endorsement of E20. The use of ethanol has been recommended for multiple reasons. It can reduce dependence on imported crude, lower carbon emissions, and create a larger market for agricultural produce from which it is made. However, variations in crude prices, the impact on food production, and water consumption of source crops such as sugarcane shape the economy of ethanol use.

Notably, no comprehensive studies have been done on the allied technical, economic, and marketing issues. Critics point out that testing under controlled conditions is not sufficient to implement a policy that impacts millions of vehicles. It is claimed that a 10 per cent ethanol blend has been found to reduce fuel efficiency by approximately 3-5 per cent. Consumers count the litres, the miles they get from them, and the money paid for every mile. Many of them may not be averse to making a sacrifice for a larger cause, but they would want to be assured that the promised benefits are real. Public policy, which affects millions of people, should be grounded in scientific data, transparent execution, and user trust. The government should have initiated a wider public consultation on the rollout.

Consumers have multiple reservations and apprehensions regarding the fuel. As stronger resistance emerges – a protest march has been planned in Delhi next week – the government should engage with the concerns. It must validate its claims on the fuel’s efficiency with an independent audit and create public confidence before it greenlights the plan as policy. (Source: DH)