The government says ethanol-blended diesel does not meet mandatory safety specifications, and wider use is ruled out for now. According to tests conducted by public sector oil companies, adding ethanol significantly lowers the fuel’s flash point, a key safety parameter.
The developments come as India continues expanding ethanol use in other areas. The country already blends ethanol with petrol and is examining ethanol for additional applications, including cooking fuel as a potential alternative to LPG. Government efforts to promote domestic ethanol production and secure supply are also part of the broader push.
While some outlets focus on the immediate technical hurdle preventing ethanol-diesel deployment, others frame it as a step in ongoing evaluation: oil marketing companies have reportedly procured ethanol volumes for blending, but further decisions—particularly for petrol blending—depend on scientific and technical studies. At present, the consensus across reports is that safety-spec compliance has not been demonstrated for diesel blending.
