Parliament Question: Evaluation of Ethanol/Additives Blending in Diesel

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 6335 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2nd April, 2026 EVALUATION OF ETHANOL/ADDITIVES BLENDING IN DIESEL †6335. SHRI IMRAN MASOOD: पे(cid:7069)ोिलयम और (cid:7079)ाकृितक गसै म(cid:7074)ं ी Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any transparent scientific evaluation of the proposal to blend additives such as ethanol or isobutanol with diesel, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether such evaluation has indicated that such blending is safe in terms of its long term impact on engine systems, fuel efficiency, human health and environment, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether coordinated public testing results have been published in consultation with automobile manufacturers, engine experts and pollution control agencies and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether the use of such blending has led to issues such as increased maintenance/repair costs of vehicles and changes in emission patterns in the long run and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER पे(cid:7069)ोिलयम और (cid:7079)ाकृितक गैस म(cid:7074)ं ालय म(cid:7286) रा(cid:6996)यमं(cid:7074)ी ((cid:7088)ी सुरेश गोपी) MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI) (a) to (d):Yes.Scientific evaluations on blending of ethanol with diesel have been undertaken by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) through their respective R&D centres in collaboration with accredited laboratories and automobile manufacturers. It was observed that ethanol blended diesel was not meeting diesel flash point as its flash point lowered drastically due to the presence of ethanol. While Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has conducted a preliminary study on Iso-butanol blending with diesel, no view has yet been taken on Iso-butanol blending with diesel. *****