August 12, 2026: Ethanol-blended diesel failed to meet required safety specifications because the addition of ethanol sharply lowered the fuel’s flash point, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said in the Parliament.
A flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid fuel gives off enough vapour to form a mix with air that can spark and briefly ignite near its surface.
Scientific evaluations on blending of ethanol with diesel have been undertaken by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) through their respective R&D centres in collaboration with accredited laboratories and automobile manufacturers.
It was observed that ethanol blended diesel was not meeting diesel flash point as its flash point lowered drastically due to the presence of ethanol.
The finding comes as India seeks to expand the use of ethanol as a transport fuel and explore new outlets for rising domestic production.
The government has so far focused its ethanol blending programme on petrol and has set a target of 20 per cent blending.
(Source: manoramayearbook.in)
To download the latest issue 'Volume 33 Issue 9 - August 10, 2026', click here |
