India, Aug. 10 -- Ethanol-blended diesel failed required safety specifications because the addition of ethanol sharply lowered the fuel's flash point, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said on Monday, effectively ruling out the fuel for wider use unless the technical issue is resolved.

Public-sector oil marketing companies conducted scientific evaluations of ethanol blending with diesel through their research and development centres, in collaboration with accredited laboratories and automobile manufacturers, Gopi said in a written reply to Parliament.

The tests found that ethanol-blended diesel did not meet the required diesel flash-point specification because the flash point fell sharply in the presence of eth...