Amid claims by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal that the Centre is planning to mix ethanol with aviation turbine fuel (ATF), Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Thursday
dismissed the allegation as “completely false and irresponsible”. The clarification came as a political row over the government’s ethanol blending policy intensified.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of the Centre’s nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20), which has triggered concerns among some vehicle owners, especially those using older vehicles.
Kejriwal Claims Centre Plans Ethanol Blend In ATF
In a Facebook post, Kejriwal claimed he had received information suggesting that the Narendra Modi-led government was planning to blend ethanol with ATF. He further alleged that aviation experts had warned such a move could compromise flight safety.
The former Delhi chief minister also claimed that the government was preparing to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond 50 per cent. In a separate post on X, he alleged that vehicles compatible with E20 fuel could be damaged if higher ethanol blends were introduced in the future.
“They’re just waiting right now for the atmosphere to calm down. First, they forced E20 petrol into your E0 and E10 vehicles and wrecked them. Today, if you buy a new E20 vehicle, the government will force E50 petrol into it after a few days and wreck it,” Kejriwal claimed.
He further alleged that diesel could also be blended with ethanol in the future and advised people to avoid purchasing new petrol and diesel vehicles for the next few years.
BJP Says No Decision Beyond E20
The BJP rejected Kejriwal’s allegations, with the party’s IT department head Amit Malviya accusing the AAP leader of spreading misinformation and creating unnecessary panic.
Malviya said the Centre had already clarified that no decision had been taken to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond E20. He added that any future proposal would be considered only after extensive scientific studies, technical assessments and consultations with vehicle manufacturers, oil marketing companies and other stakeholders.
“Arvind Kejriwal has the right to do politics, but scaring the public with lies is not acceptable. Read the facts, trust science and evidence, not rumours,” Malviya wrote on X.
Responding to the BJP leader, Kejriwal said, “I’m glad you’ve acknowledged that the decision hasn’t been taken ‘yet’.”
Union Minister Explains Difference Between Ethanol And SAF
Later in the day, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu issued a clarification, rejecting Kejriwal’s claim that the government was planning to mix ethanol with aviation turbine fuel.
Calling the allegation “completely false and irresponsible”, the minister said ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are entirely different fuels and should not be confused.
He explained that SAF is an internationally certified aviation fuel recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and is already being adopted by countries across the world. According to him, SAF undergoes rigorous testing and meets stringent international safety standards.
“Spreading misinformation on aviation safety only creates needless anxiety among air travellers. Passenger safety remains the Government’s highest priority,” Kinjarapu said.
