Bhutan refuses to import E20 petrol from India in view of concerns
New Delhi, July 5: In view of serious concerns over Ethanol-blended petrol, Bhutan has refused to import such a variety of fuel from India, according to a local media report.
The media report said Indian Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been offering to supply E20 petrol to Bhutan.
But, Bhutan will not be importing E20 petrol from India anytime soon, the report said, quoting the country’s Department of Trade.
E20 is petrol mixed with 20% ethanol, regarding which widespread concerns have been expressed by experts and commoners that this variety of fuel damages the engines of the vehicles.
Bhutan, a landlocked country, is heavily dependent on imports from India for most of the commodities, including fuel.
The report flagged concerns raised in India about vehicle breakdowns and reduced mileage.
It also quoted the Department of Trade of Bhutan as saying that, unlike normal MS (petrol), ethanol-blended petrol contains a hydroxyl (-OH) group, making it hygroscopic in nature, meaning it readily absorbs and mixes with water.
Once water contaminates ethanol-blended fuel, the water and fuel cannot be separated easily, which is likely to affect fuel quality and vehicle performance.
“Further, considering the existing condition and quality of several of the underground storage tanks maintained by fuel dealers, the import and handling of ethanol-blended fuel may pose challenges in ensuring fuel quality and preventing contamination,” said the Bhutanese media outlet quoting the Department of Trade of Bhutan.
An official told the media outlet that many of Bhutan’s fuel tanks are very old. Given their age and the Himalayan terrain, it is expected that there may be some slight seepage of water into the fuel tanks.
The official said that if E20 is stored in such tanks, the ethanol component of the fuel will absorb water, which will both dilute the fuel and change its chemical composition.
The official added that, in such a scenario, there is a high chance of major engine issues, and the vehicle may even fail to run. He reportedly said this would quickly become a public issue and then a media issue.
The Department further informed that, in view of these concerns, the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)/OMCs in India were requested during technical meetings to continue supplying normal petrol for Bhutan as long as such fuel remains available in the Indian market.
An official with Tashi BOD, the nation’s largest fuel distributor, also said that, currently, fuel stations in Bhutan cannot handle ethanol due to water seepage, which would destroy the fuel.
He further claimed that E20 is particularly unsuited to hilly terrain like that in Bhutan due to groundwater and seepage issues.
Even without those concerns, vehicles require more power on hills, and E20 will not deliver optimal performance.
“Even in the event that India transitions to higher levels of ethanol blending or eventually adopts fully Bhutan has requested that advance notice be provided,” the statement shared by the local report read.
It added, “This would allow fuel dealers, in collaboration with PSUs/OMCs, sufficient time to upgrade underground storage tank infrastructure and related fuel handling systems to ensure leak-proof and seepage-free storage facilities capable of safely handling ethanol-blended fuels.”
The official said that Bhutan currently buys the higher export-quality petrol and diesel from India, which is priced higher than the fuel sold at petrol pumps in India. (BVI)
