Centre Rules Out Ethanol Blending in Diesel Over Safety Concerns

New Delhi, August 10: The Centre has ruled out ethanol blending in diesel, citing safety concerns related to the fuel’s flash point. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi informed Parliament that trials conducted by public-sector oil marketing companies in coordination with automobile manufacturers indicated that blending ethanol with diesel could adversely affect the fuel’s flash point.

The Minister was responding to a question raised by an MP regarding the government’s plans for ethanol blending in diesel. He said the tests indicated that ethanol blending could lower the flash point of diesel, potentially creating safety concerns during the storage, handling and transportation of the fuel.

The government clarified that ethanol is currently not being blended with diesel in the country. Unlike petrol, where ethanol blending has been progressively increased, diesel requires different technical and safety considerations.

Officials said that any future proposal for ethanol blending in diesel would need to meet the prescribed safety, technical and performance standards before implementation.