India’s plan to explore ethanol-blended diesel has hit a safety hurdle after government tests found that the blend failed to meet mandatory safety standards.
According to the government, adding ethanol to diesel causes a significant reduction in the fuel’s flash point, the minimum temperature at which fuel vapours can form an ignitable mixture. The lower flash point raises safety concerns during the storage, transportation and handling of the fuel.
The findings mean that wider use of ethanol-blended diesel will not be taken forward for now, until the technical and safety issues are addressed.
Public-sector oil marketing companies had conducted scientific evaluations to assess the feasibility of blending ethanol with diesel. While ethanol has emerged as an important part of India’s strategy to reduce fossil-fuel dependence, its use in diesel presents different technical challenges compared with petrol blending.
India has made significant progress in increasing ethanol blending in petrol, driven by its goals of reducing crude oil imports, supporting farmers and lowering emissions. However, extending ethanol blending to diesel requires the fuel to meet stringent safety and performance requirements.
The government’s decision highlights the importance of ensuring that alternative fuels are not only environmentally beneficial but also safe across the entire fuel supply chain.
For now, ethanol-blended diesel remains on hold as authorities and researchers examine whether the flash-point issue can be technically resolved.
