(a) whether the Government is aware of the widespread complaint in the
country that the oil marketing companies are supplying pure petrol mixed
with Ethanol and the petrol pumps are supplying this mixed petrol at pure
petrol price; and
(b) if so, the reaction alongwith the action taken by the Government thereon?
Minister of State in the MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DINSHA PATEL)
(a) to (b): According to IS: 2796:2000 amendment, 5% anhydrous denatured
ethanol (conforming to IS: 15464: 2004) can be used for blending with motor
gasoline. Motor Spirit (MS) blended with 5% ethanol meets BIS specification
for MS in totality. Accordingly, ethanol blended petrol with 5% ethanol is
being dispensed from the retail outlets of OMCs in the notified States and
Union Territories. As BIS specifications are met, the product is sold as petrol
and the companies are not making any differentiation on the basis of blending
ethanol.Further,depending on ethanol availability in a supply location, blending
is done.
The calorific value of ethanol is less than that of MS by almost 40%. The typical
calorific value of ethanol is 26750 KJ/KG as against the typical calorific value of
MS which is 43500 KJ/KG. In the blended MS, the reduction in calorific value of
the blended fuel will be less than 2%, as compared to the MS without ethanol
which is insignificant. However, the octane number of ethanol is 100 as against
more than or equal to 88 of MS. As ethanol has a higher octane number, it helps
in increasing the octane number of the blended fuel which facilitates better
combustion and thus helps in net reduction of tail pipe emissions.
In view of the above, marketing ethanol blended petrol at the price of unblended
petrol is fully justified.