India has permitted blending of ethanol and other synthetic hydrocarbons in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) as part of efforts to cut emissions and reduce dependence on oil imports.
The Kerala Congress unit has warned that the move could have “catastrophic consequences,” drawing a comparison with the Air India Express Flight 1344 crash.
In a post on X, the party criticised the Centre, alleging that “Nitin Gadkari and Narendra Modi are playing with real fire, driven by ignorance and greed.”
Explaining its concerns, the party said ethanol has a lower energy density (around 26.8 MJ/kg) compared to ATF (about 43.2 MJ/kg), which could impact engine performance during critical phases such as take-off. “If a fully loaded aircraft does not get sufficient thrust, the consequences can be catastrophic,” it said.
The post also claimed that aircraft using ethanol blends would require higher fuel volumes to achieve the same range, potentially reducing payload capacity and efficiency.
Raising safety concerns, it added that ethanol is hygroscopic—meaning it absorbs moisture from the air—which could freeze at high altitudes and form ice crystals, risking blockage of fuel lines and filters.
23/04/2026 Economic Times
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