BPCL Dismisses Viral Claims That E20 Fuel Attracts Ants, Offers Scientific Explanation

A viral video circulating on social media has claimed that E20 petrol, which contains 20% ethanol blended with conventional fuel, causes ants to accumulate around vehicle fuel caps. The claim gained rapid traction following the recent legal approval of E100 fuel, with social media users attributing the phenomenon to ethanol being derived from sugarcane and retaining sweetness that attracts insects. However, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has firmly refuted these allegations, stating there is no scientific basis for the connection and characterizing the claims as entirely baseless and misleading.

BPCL provided detailed scientific explanations for why E20 fuel would not attract ants. The company explained that fuel-grade ethanol undergoes a complex fermentation and distillation process that completely removes all sugars and sweetness from the final product. Additionally, BPCL noted that denaturants—special compounds that repel insects and pests—are deliberately added to fuel-grade ethanol to prevent contamination and pest attraction. These measures ensure that no residual sugars or sweet compounds remain in the ethanol that could attract insects.

The petroleum corporation offered multiple additional scientific reasons why E20 fuel would not attract ants. When ethanol is blended into petrol, the characteristic hydrocarbon smell of conventional petrol remains dominant, effectively masking any mild scent from the ethanol component, and this pungent petroleum odor is unattractive to ants. Furthermore, E20 fuel produces significantly less fuel vapor compared to conventional petrol, reducing the likelihood of insects being drawn to fuel caps by evaporating compounds. The company emphasized that the combination of these factors makes ant attraction to E20 fuel scientifically implausible.

BPCL suggested that ants observed near fuel caps are more likely attracted to dirt, food residue, or moisture around the vehicle rather than the fuel itself. The company urged the public to disregard unverified claims circulating on social media platforms and to rely on scientific evidence instead. This formal response addresses widespread misinformation that had caused concern among vehicle owners following E100 fuel's legal approval.