Civil Aviation Minister Naidu Denies Rumours of Ethanol-Blended Jet Fuel

Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu has categorically denied rumours regarding the blending of 20% ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). The minister clarified that no such proposal exists and the reports circulating on social media are entirely baseless. This statement comes after political opponents claimed the government was planning to introduce E20 standards for the aviation sector. Naidu emphasized that jet fuel standards are strictly governed by international safety norms and cannot be altered through arbitrary blending policies.

The controversy erupted after AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Centre was planning to blend ethanol in diesel and ATF. Kejriwal had urged citizens to delay vehicle purchases, citing potential engine damage from high ethanol concentrations. The BJP dismissed these claims as "fear politics" and "fake news," accusing the opposition of misleading the public for political gain. The Ministry of External Affairs also clarified that India has made no commitments to import ethanol from the U.S. for fuel blending under any Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

The government's clarification aims to stabilize public sentiment and prevent panic among vehicle owners and air travellers. While India is aggressively pursuing a 20% ethanol blending target for petrol by 2025-26, the policy does not currently extend to diesel or jet fuel. For the average Indian, this means no immediate change in the technical specifications of diesel or flight safety protocols. Moving forward, the focus remains on domestic ethanol production from sugarcane and food grains to reduce the oil import bill without compromising engine integrity or aviation safety.