Civil Aviation Minister Denies Arvind Kejriwal's Ethanol Fuel Claims

Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu dismissed claims made by Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal that the Indian government intends to blend ethanol into Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Kejriwal alleged that such a move would compromise flight safety and could cause aircraft engines to stop mid-air, comparing the alleged plan to the government's E20 petrol rollout.

Minister Naidu characterized the assertions as completely false and irresponsible, stating there is no proposal to mix ethanol with ATF. He clarified the distinction between raw ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), noting that SAF is an internationally certified fuel recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) that meets stringent global safety standards. The government is targeting a 1 percent SAF blend for international flights by 2027 to comply with ICAO mandates.

BJP IT department head Amit Malviya accused Kejriwal of spreading fake news and scaring the public. Malviya asserted that aviation-grade fuel produced through advanced processing is chemically similar to conventional ATF and fully compatible with engines. While the minister denied immediate ethanol blending proposals, existing regulations allow for the blending of synthetic hydrocarbons and ethanol to reduce emissions and oil imports.