Petrol pump owners claim ethanol’s moisture-absorbing nature is contaminating fuel
Petrol pump owners report that ethanol-blended fuel (E20) is causing contamination issues due to ethanol's hygroscopic nature. Water ingress in underground storage tanks leads to phase separation, potentially damaging vehicle engines.
Why it matters
This highlights significant infrastructure and logistical challenges in India's transition to higher ethanol-blended fuels, impacting both fuel retailers and consumers.
Petrol pump owners claim that ethanol’s hygroscopic nature or affinity towards water is leading to contamination of their E20 stock during monsoons and in the coastal areas since the existing underground storage tanks were designed for conventional petrol, not higher ethanol blends.
These claims come amid videos that have become viral on social media purportedly showing customers collecting what appears to be muddy water, rather than E20, from fuel dispensers. One such video involved a Toyota Hycross car, following which the automaker had blamed fuel contamination rather than any vehicle related malfunction as the car was E20 compliant.
Three petrol pump owners shared their concerns over the roll out of E20 with The Hindu speaking on condition of anonymity as oil marketing companies have instructed them not to speak publicly on the issue.
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