‘No attraction between ants and e20 petrol’:Govt clarifies viral video of ants on fuel tank is old, new claims are misleading

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has dismissed rumours spreading on social media regarding ethanol fuel. The ministry said in a press briefing on Tuesday that blending ethanol in petrol is completely scientific and is being continuously monitored. Recently, a video went viral on social media showing ants near a vehicle’s fuel tank. In response, the Bharat Petroleum Ministry clarified that fuel-grade ethanol does not contain any sugar. According to the ministry, some people are resharing old videos and pictures on social media, creating confusion among the public. E20 petrol has no impact on vehicle insurance The central government has also clarified that the use of E20 petrol (20% ethanol flex fuel) has no impact on the validity of vehicle insurance. Such concerns are incorrect and have been dismissed after discussions with relevant parties. According to the government, ethanol-blended fuel is being successfully used in countries like America, Brazil, and Japan. In Brazil, E27 has been used as fuel for a long time. Government lists 3 benefits of using ethanol What is ethanol? Ethanol is a type of alcohol, which is made from the fermentation of starch and sugar. It is mixed with petrol and used in vehicles as an eco-friendly fuel. Ethanol production mainly comes from sugarcane juice, but ethanol can also be prepared from starch containing materials like corn, rotten potatoes, cassava and rotten vegetables. First Generation Ethanol: First generation ethanol is made from sugarcane juice, sweet beet, rotten potatoes, sweet sorghum and corn. Second Generation Ethanol: Second generation ethanol is made from cellulose and lignocellulosic materials such as- rice husk, wheat husk, corncob, bamboo and woody biomass. Third Generation Biofuel: Third generation biofuel will be made from algae. Work is currently underway on this. E85 Fuel Launched 15 Days Ago, Government’s Focus on Biofuel 15 days ago, the government introduced E85 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles. The price of E85 fuel in Delhi was set at ₹82.12 per liter. This is a full ₹20 less than the regular E20 petrol being sold in Delhi. This fuel is a blend that contains up to 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. Now with the approval of 100% ethanol, a new chapter has begun in the country’s green energy and biofuel sector. Currently, 4 types of flex-fuel are being sold in the market. Can Only Be Used in These Select Vehicles E85 fuel cannot be used in regular petrol vehicles. For this, the vehicle’s engine must be specifically based on ‘flex-fuel’ technology.