Can using E20 petrol lead to insurance claim rejection? What the govt said

NEW DELHI: Using E20 (20% ethanol-blended) petrol cannot be a reason for an insurance claim to be rejected, according to the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.The clarification comes with BJP recently sharing a post on X urging consumers to "use E20 without any worries," stating that "the claim that using E20 petrol will lead to insurance claim rejections is completely false" and that "no insurance claim can be rejected solely on the basis of using E20."The ministry of oil and petroleum had earlier issued a detailed press release addressing several misconceptions surrounding ethanol-blended petrol, including claims related to vehicle insurance, engine failures and fuel quality.It said concerns that E20 fuel could invalidate vehicle insurance policies had been examined and found to be incorrect. The government also dismissed claims that ethanol-blended petrol causes widespread engine damage or attracts insects, saying such assertions have no scientific basis.According to the ministry, the Ethanol Blending Programme is scientifically validated and is implemented in consultation with oil marketing companies, automobile manufacturers and fuel-testing agencies. Since the rollout of E20 petrol in 2023, it said there have been no widespread reports of engine failures or vehicle breakdowns attributable to ethanol blending.The ministry added that ethanol used for fuel blending is manufactured through established industrial processes and meets stringent quality specifications before being blended with petrol.Get the latest Business News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.