A viral social media video claiming E20 petrol attracts ants has prompted Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to issue an official clarification. The video, which has been widely shared online, shows a group of ants gathered around the fuel filler cap of a car and suggests that the presence of ethanol-blended fuel in the tank is the reason behind it.The clip led many users to believe that the ants were attracted by the ethanol content in the fuel. However, BPCL has denied the claim, stating that there is no scientific evidence linking E20 petrol with the attraction of insects.In its clarification, the oil marketing company explained that the fuel-grade ethanol used for gasoline blending undergoes fermentation and distillation processes that remove residual sugars from the final product. BPCL also noted that the ethanol used in the fuel contains denaturants, substances that are usually insect repellent.The company also said that once ethanol is mixed with gasoline, the characteristic smell of gasoline hydrocarbons remains dominant. Also, gasoline blended with ethanol produces lower fuel vapor compared to conventional gasoline. According to BPCL, there is no identifiable component in E20 fuel that could attract ants or other insects to a vehicle’s fuel cap.“Claims suggesting a link between E20 fuel and the attraction of ants have no scientific basis,” BPCL said in its statement, adding that the allegations circulating on social media are unfounded and without evidence.The clarification comes at a time when India is steadily increasing the use of ethanol-blended fuels as part of its efforts to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and reduce vehicle emissions. E20 gasoline is a mixture containing 20% ​​ethanol and 80% conventional gasoline. Ethanol is a biofuel typically produced from agricultural sources such as sugar cane and corn.
