Government has no plan to blend ethanol in aviation fuel:Kejriwal’s claim refuted; Minister says- Don’t scare passengers by spreading rumors

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu has clarified that the government has no plan to blend ethanol in aircraft fuel. He said that spreading such misinformation or rumors about aviation safety creates unnecessary fear and anxiety among air travelers. Naidu’s statement came after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s claim in which he had accused the central government of planning to blend ethanol in aircraft fuel. The Aviation Minister made it clear that the safety of air travelers is the government’s first priority and there will be no compromise on safety standards. What did Kejriwal claim? Arvind Kejriwal had written in a social media post that sources have indicated that the Modi government is planning to blend ethanol in aircraft fuel. Experts say that this could seriously compromise flight safety. Naidu said – Understand the difference between ethanol and SAF Responding to Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu wrote on X that ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are two completely different things and should not be considered the same. SAF is an internationally certified aviation fuel, which is recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization i.e. ICAO and is being adopted globally. SAF passes through Global Safety Standards Naidu further explained that SAF is put through a rigorous testing process before being brought into use. It fully meets international level safety standards. Therefore, using it with normal jet fuel has been considered completely safe. He reiterated that the government is committed to the growth of the aviation sector in the country and passenger safety, and any step related to safety is taken only keeping global standards in mind. Knowledge Box: What is SAF and how is it different from ethanol? Ethanol: Mainly made from sugarcane or grains. It is mixed with petrol for cars/bikes. It cannot be used directly in aircraft engines. SAF: It is made from bio-waste, used cooking oil and other organic waste. It has the same chemical structure as traditional ATF and reduces carbon emissions by up to 80%. Its use Global Trend: Which countries in the world are already using SAF? The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel or SAF is rapidly increasing worldwide. Currently, more than 40 countries and regions have implemented or are developing policies in support of SAF. According to International Civil Aviation Organization or ICAO data, SAF is available at more than 125 airports worldwide and more than 3,60,000 commercial flights have used SAF so far. The United States and Europe are leading in its use.