E20 petrol row: Oil companies reject Karnataka claims of excess ethanol blending

India's public sector oil marketing companies have firmly rejected allegations by the Karnataka government that petrol sold in the state contains up to 31.2% ethanol blending, well above the mandated 20% limit.

In a joint response, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation clarified that the state's claims rely on flawed testing procedures that bypassed statutory rules. The retailers pointed out that state officials collected samples without OMC representatives present, violating the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Control Order, 2005, as well as the Marketing Discipline Guidelines of 2024.

Official checks confirm strict compliance with standards

To ensure quality control across the country's distribution network, the petroleum ministry's Centre for High Technology routinely conducts technical audits. A recent nationwide exercise evaluated 893 petrol samples drawn from supply depots and retail outlets across 27 states and Union Territories. Every single sample met official standards, recording ethanol blending squarely within the permissible 19% to 21% range.

In Karnataka itself, official quality audits covered 56 samples across all three state-run retailers. The tests confirmed that ethanol content ranged between 19% and 20%, with an average reading of 19.3%.

Flawed testing methods questioned by fuel retailers

Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad had earlier claimed that tests conducted at state-authorised laboratories on samples from 63 outlets—including private operators Nayara, Shell, and MRPL—showed alarming readings. He alleged that 14 bunks delivered petrol with ethanol blending as high as 31.2% at an IOCL pump and 30.5% at an HPCL facility.

The oil marketing companies have written to the Karnataka government seeking full documentation, laboratory reports, and details of the test methodologies used. The retailers have offered to conduct a joint, transparent sampling and testing exercise alongside state officials to demonstrate that all fuel delivered to consumers strictly adheres to national E20 standards.