Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday strongly defended E20 ethanol-blended petrol. He said misinformation was being spread about the fuel and urged people not to blame ethanol for every vehicle problem.

His remarks came days after YouTuber and vlogger Sourav Joshi changed his earlier claim about the reduced mileage of his Mercedes-Benz SUV. Joshi said the issue was caused by an "engine issue" and not by E20 petrol.

His clarification came after Mercedes-Benz India confirmed that all its BS VI petrol vehicles are fully compatible with E20 fuel.

Gadkari Urges People Not to Blame Ethanol

Responding to concerns over E20 petrol, Gadkari said the government has always been transparent about its plan to promote alternative biofuels.

“The public is well aware of the facts. The policy and roadmap for transitioning to alternative biofuels have been discussed transparently and communicated at every stage," the Union Minister said. He added that the policy aims to make India energy independent and support the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Mechanical Faults Can Happen in Any Vehicle

Gadkari said every machine can develop technical problems. He stressed that people should not immediately connect such issues with ethanol-blended fuel.

“Like any machine, automobiles can develop faults. No technology is 100 per cent perfect. If a vehicle develops an issue, owners should have it inspected by the dealer and use insurance where applicable. Not every mechanical problem can be attributed to ethanol blending," he said.

He advised vehicle owners to get their vehicles checked by authorised dealers before concluding that the fuel caused the problem.

Gadkari Says E20 Fuel Is Safe

The minister repeated that E20 petrol is safe for both older and newer vehicles. “E20 fuel is safe for both existing and new vehicles. Misinformation is being spread to create confusion, while some criticism is politically motivated rather than based on facts," he said.

He claimed that false information about ethanol-blended petrol was creating unnecessary confusion among vehicle owners.

Sourav Joshi Revises His Earlier Claim

The debate over E20 fuel gained attention after Sourav Joshi initially linked the poor mileage of his Mercedes-Benz SUV to E20 petrol. However, he later clarified that the problem resulted from an "engine issue."

Mercedes-Benz India also stated that all its BS VI petrol vehicles are designed to run safely on E20 fuel, adding to the ongoing discussion over ethanol-blended petrol.

Government Continues to Push Biofuel Roadmap

Gadkari said the government remains committed to expanding the use of alternative fuels. He said the biofuel programme aims to reduce India's dependence on conventional fossil fuels, cut fuel imports and strengthen the country's energy self-reliance under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.