Karnataka minister alleges excess ethanol in state petrol samples
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad claimed some fuel contained over 31 per cent ethanol, prompting denials from oil companies.
Karnataka Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad has alleged that petrol samples tested in state-authorised laboratories showed ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed limit. According to the Times of India, Arshad stated that tests on fuel from 63 petrol stations found 14 instances where ethanol content was above the allowed amount, with some reaching 31.2 per cent.
The minister claimed that samples linked to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) showed ethanol levels of 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent respectively, according to Urban Acres. Arshad has called on the Union government to take action and demanded compensation for consumers whose vehicles may have been damaged.
State-run oil marketing companies, including IOCL, Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), and HPCL, have challenged these claims. In a joint statement reported by Deccan Herald, the companies said their E20 petrol conforms to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications of 19-21 per cent ethanol.
The oil companies questioned the testing methodology and sampling procedures used by the Karnataka government. They alleged that the October sampling was conducted without their representatives present and that they have not received the necessary reports or samples to independently verify the findings.
Fuel retailers noted that 56 samples from Karnataka tested during a nationwide drive fell within the required 19-21 per cent range, according to the Times of India.