Be wary of misinformation about E10 gasoline.

From June 1st, E10 bioethanol fuel was officially launched nationwide. This is a strategic move that brings dual benefits to both the environment and the self-reliant economy. However, taking advantage of the novelty of the policy and the natural concerns of consumers, hostile and reactionary forces have relentlessly spread a series of distorted and fabricated narratives, causing public confusion about E10 fuel.

People fill up with E10 gasoline at a gas station in Hoan Kiem ward. Photo: Do ​​Tam.

1. Reactionary organizations like "Viet Tan" or spontaneous groups claiming to "protect consumers" often follow a familiar script: "Taking advantage of the situation," using a purely socio-economic issue to manipulate it into a story of political discontent.

Their first and most sophisticated tactic is to directly target people's wallets with the false accusation: "The government is phasing out RON 95 gasoline to impose a monopoly, depriving consumers of their right to choose in order to maximize economic gains." They deliberately blur the line between upgrading fuel standards and engaging in coercive profiteering. This is a malicious distortion.

In fact, any developed country wanting to transition from a carbon-intensive economy to a green economy must start with its transportation network. E10 bioethanol is not a spur-of-the-moment "experimental" invention in Vietnam, but rather a common fuel standard that has been in place for decades in the world's most stringent economies, such as the United States, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, and Australia. In the US, E10 accounts for over 95% of market share. In the UK, since 2021, E10 has become the standard fuel at all gas stations. Vietnam's adoption of E10 bioethanol is a natural progression into the global trend of civilization, and is absolutely not an act of "excessive taxation" as some reactionary voices are claiming.

Even more dangerously, malicious individuals are thoroughly exploiting social media forums to exaggerate technical flaws, creating public panic with widespread information such as: Ethanol has strong water-absorbing properties, which will cause rubber seals to crumble, tanks to rust, and serious damage to motorcycles and cars, and especially that it is "unsuitable for the hot and humid climate in Vietnam"... This kind of "word-of-mouth" information is systematically injected into public opinion, targeting the psychology of many people.

The nature of fake news is ambiguity and half-truths. It's true that ethanol (bioethanol) has hydrating and cleaning properties, but that applies to pure ethanol or at high concentrations in blended products. At a 10% ratio in E10 gasoline, all technical characteristics have been optimally calculated and standardized by scientists and mechanical engineers under strict technical standards.

Before its official widespread use, reputable domestic institutions such as the School of Mechanical Engineering (Hanoi University of Science and Technology) and the Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI) conducted a series of independent research and testing projects on specialized engine test benches. Experimental results showed that the wear rate of core mechanical components such as pistons, cylinders, and piston rings when using E10 bioethanol fuel was entirely within the absolute safety limits set by manufacturers. Furthermore, because ethanol has a very high natural octane rating (approximately 108-109), when blended with base gasoline, it helps increase the overall octane rating of the commercial fuel, improving knock resistance, ensuring smooth engine operation, and optimizing combustion efficiency.

If E10 bioethanol fuel is truly the "culprit" destroying vehicles, why have hundreds of millions of cars in countries around the world continued to roll on the roads for so many years? Surely, the governments and people of developed countries wouldn't accept the self-destruction of their assets with a toxic fuel? Clearly, those with malicious minds deliberately spreading false rumors have only one goal: to incite panic and undermine public trust in the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State.

Moreover, the deployment of E10 bioethanol in Vietnam has been prepared in advance with a scientific and systematic roadmap for many years, starting with Decision No. 177/2007/QD-TTg dated November 20, 2007, of the Prime Minister approving the "Biofuel Development Plan to 2015, with a vision to 2025". We have had nearly a decade of safe and stable operation of the E5 RON 92 bioethanol system. The infrastructure of tanks, independent blending stations, and specialized tanker trucks of major enterprises such as Petrolimex, PV Oil, etc., has been deployed synchronously. The transition from E5 to E10 is simply a natural progression, not a hasty or piecemeal move as hostile forces have falsely claimed.

2. In today's flat world and with the rise of social media, information chaos is inevitable whenever a policy affects the masses. To avoid becoming a pawn in the psychological warfare of reactionary forces, each citizen needs to establish a strong "information immunity system" and a filter for civilized and scientific behavior.

First and foremost, we need to develop the habit of verifying information, only trusting and accepting information from official news sources, technical announcements from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, or recommendations from reputable car manufacturers. Before reacting to a sensational video on TikTok about "cars breaking down due to E10 gasoline" or a resentful post on Facebook, pause for a few seconds to ask: Who verified this information? What is the poster's motive? Resolutely refrain from clicking "Share" or commenting blindly until the facts are clear. Spreading misinformation is not only irresponsible towards the community but also a violation of the law and will be severely punished under the Cybersecurity Law.

Secondly, we need to understand our own vehicles thoroughly to use fuel most effectively. For the vast majority of vehicles today, from new cars to motorcycles using electronic fuel injection (FI) systems manufactured after 2010, the materials and control programming have been fully optimized for E10 gasoline. For a small number of older models using carburetors, owners should pay attention to regular maintenance of the fuel lines and rubber gaskets; avoid storing the vehicle for too long without use, as this can cause moisture to accumulate in the fuel tank.

Switching to E10 bioethanol is not simply a matter of changing the type of fuel used in a tank; it's a shift in awareness of social responsibility. Every liter of E10 consumed is a practical action contributing to reducing air pollution, decreasing dependence on imported oil, and promoting a sustainable domestic agricultural value chain. This is a humane and progressive goal that no distorted argument can deny.

The battle against misinformation surrounding the deployment of E10 biofuel once again tests the resilience and vigilance of society, as well as of every official, Party member, and citizen. When each individual is equipped with sufficient scientific knowledge, accesses transparent information, and acts with a dialectical mindset and respect for the law, all waves of misinformation and incitement by reactionary forces will inevitably collide with the wall of trust and consensus and crumble. Green transition is an inevitable trend not only in Vietnam, and the unity of every citizen is the foundation for the country's sustainable development.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tinh-tao-truc-nhung-hoang-tin-ve-xang-e10-1103607.html