E20 petrol meets quality standards, says Petroleum Ministry
The government defended the ethanol-blended petrol programme after state-run oil companies challenged claims of excessive ethanol content in Karnataka.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Saturday said that 893 samples of E20 petrol collected across 27 states and Union Territories met prescribed quality standards. According to Moneycontrol, tests conducted by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) found ethanol content within the required 19-21 per cent range under the Bureau of Indian Standards' IS 17021 specification.
The ministry's findings contradict a press release from Karnataka's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, which claimed some retail outlets in the state sold petrol containing 26-31 per cent ethanol. Of the 893 samples tested, 56 were from Karnataka, which recorded an average ethanol content of 19.30 per cent.
The three oil marketing companies (OMCs) have questioned the sampling and testing procedures used in Karnataka's October 2026 exercise. The OMCs stated that the October exercise was reportedly conducted without their representatives and that they have not received retention samples, outlet-wise details, or laboratory reports despite requests made through the State Level Coordinator.
The companies also questioned certificates from a third-party laboratory, noting they did not specify the standard test method or dilution procedure used. They noted that the density readings in the Karnataka samples were lower than their own E20 samples, whereas higher ethanol content should ordinarily increase density.
The government and OMCs also challenged estimates that E20 fuel could cause an annual consumer mileage loss of Rs 62,000 crore and vehicle repair costs of Rs 39,000 crore. The ministry stated that mileage impact varies by vehicle category, with some vehicles seeing reductions of 1-2 per cent and others 3-6 per cent.