'Don’t Discredit Ethanol Without Knowledge': Pasha Patel Slams Misinformation, Traces India's Power Alcohol Legacy And Vajpayee's 5% Blending Push

Veteran politician Pasha Patel has criticized misinformation surrounding ethanol, emphasizing the importance of understanding the subject matter before criticizing it. Patel, Chairman of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Price Commission and Executive Chairman of the Chief Minister's Environment and Sustainable Development Task Force, made these remarks at the Bharat Ethanol Forum held in Mumbai.

He pointed out that ethanol has a long history, with its origins traced back to Brazil in 1931, when sugarcane prices had plummeted and the Brazilian government began producing "power alcohol" to demonstrate that sugarcane could be used for more than just making sugar. Patel noted that India was not behind Brazil in this regard, as Mandya in Karnataka had set up a sugar factory in the 1930s and began producing power alcohol by 1940, with a law mandating its use established by 1945.

Patel traced the history further, mentioning that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru recognized the importance of power alcohol and even wrote about it in his book The Discovery of India, although it couldn't be produced due to opposition from British oil-marketing company Burmah-Shell. It wasn't until Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government introduced a policy to blend 5% ethanol into petrol that ethanol gained traction in India, with subsequent governments supporting the expansion to E20 blends.

However, Patel claims that once Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his ambition for flex-fuel engines running on 100% ethanol, the ethanol lobby felt threatened and decided to oppose the move at all costs. Patel also urged ethanol producers to speak out against the misinformation campaign against ethanol.