E20 Petrol Sparks Fresh Debate As Dealers Urge Government To Review Amid Rising Complaints

The E20 petrol debate has reached a new turning point, as Odisha Petroleum Dealers Association President Sasanka Sekhar Sahu has called on the government to reconsider the mandatory E20 fuel blend following several user complaints. The government has been facing criticism from consumers ever since it decided to make E20 petrol mandatory for petrol vehicles in India.

E20 Petrol Sparks Fresh Complaints From Dealers

Several users have reported faults and issues after using ethanol-blended fuel. However, the government continues to deny these claims, stating that ethanol does not damage vehicles apart from causing a slight reduction in fuel efficiency. Despite these assurances, complaints related to E20 petrol continue to increase, and now the Petroleum Dealers Association has called for the government's intervention.

According to an ANI report, Odisha Petroleum Dealers Association President Sasanka Sekhar Sahu said, "We are urging the government to reconsider the introduction of E20 fuel. Dealers are facing significant difficulties with the current E20 rollout. While the blend is capped at 10% in most countries worldwide, India has implemented a 20% blend."

He added, "The vehicles here aren't fully compatible with this type of fuel. This leads to issues like clogged carburettors and other mechanical failures. Customers at petrol pumps create a ruckus, even though the pump owners have no control over the situation. The government introduced the fuel, and we simply sell it. These problems only existed after the introduction of E20 petrol."

Manufacturers continue to maintain that all new vehicles manufactured in India are E20-compliant and can safely run on E20 petrol. However, the increasing number of complaints related to ethanol-blended fuel is making the situation difficult for dealers, particularly for customers using older vehicles.

Ethanol blending is not limited to India. Several other countries, including Brazil, the United States, and Thailand, also use ethanol-blended petrol to reduce crude oil imports. The transition is expected to continue as the government plans to increase ethanol blending further by introducing E22, E25, and E30 petrol in the coming years.