Viral Video Sparks E20 Petrol Debate, BPCL Says No Scientific Evidence
Viral Video Sparks E20 Petrol Debate, BPCL Says No Scientific Evidence
24 June, 2026: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has dismissed a viral social media claim suggesting that E20 petrol attracts ants, stating that there is no scientific evidence to support such allegations.
The clarification came after a video showing a swarm of ants around a car’s fuel filler cap gained widespread attention online. The video led many social media users to speculate that the ethanol content in E20 petrol was responsible for attracting the insects.
Responding to the claims, BPCL said that fuel-grade ethanol used in petrol blending undergoes rigorous fermentation and distillation processes that remove residual sugars from the final product. As a result, the company said there is no reason for ants to be attracted to ethanol-blended fuel.
The oil marketing company further explained that the ethanol used in fuel contains denaturants, chemical additives that are generally known to repel insects. BPCL also noted that when ethanol is blended with petrol, the characteristic smell of petrol remains dominant.
According to the company, E20 petrol produces lower fuel vapour emissions than conventional petrol and does not contain any identifiable component that could attract ants or other insects to a vehicle’s fuel tank area.
BPCL described the claims circulating on social media as baseless and unsupported by scientific facts. The company urged consumers not to rely on misinformation and clarified that there is no established link between E20 fuel and insect attraction.
The statement comes as India continues to promote ethanol-blended fuels to reduce crude oil imports and cut vehicle emissions. E20 petrol consists of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent conventional petrol.
Ethanol, a renewable biofuel, is primarily produced from agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcane and maize and plays a key role in India’s efforts to transition towards cleaner energy sources.
