Centre rejects AAP’s claims of ethanol blending in aviation fuel

New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has dismissed claims that the government is planning to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), calling the reports “completely false and irresponsible”. The clarification came after remarks made by Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, with the ministry stressing that no such proposal is under consideration.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said spreading incorrect information about aviation fuel could create unnecessary concern among air travellers.

Kejriwal and BJP’s IT department head Amit Malviya engaged in a war of words on X on Thursday, with the AAP leader alleging that the Centre plans to introduce ethanol blending in diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF).

Slamming Kejriwal, Malviya said spreading “fake news” and creating undue “panic” is his “old habit”, and asserted that the Centre has clearly stated that there was no decision on ethanol mixing beyond E20.

E20 fuel, a blend of 80 per cent petrol and 20 per cent ethanol, is reshaping the country’s retail fuel landscape. Alleging that the government would soon blend ethanol in diesel as well, Kejriwal urged people to avoid purchasing new petrol and diesel vehicles for the time being.

In another post, he claimed, citing sources, that the Modi government was planning to blend ethanol in ATF. In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal alleged the government planned to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond 50 per cent after introducing E20 fuel.

“It seems they are going to adulterate petrol with more than 50 per cent. They are just waiting for the atmosphere to calm down. First, they forced.