Karnataka minister alleges ethanol levels in E20 fuel exceed 30 per cent
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad claimed laboratory tests found ethanol content as high as 31.2 per cent in some petrol samples.
Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad alleged on Friday that petrol samples collected from seven districts in the state contained ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed 20 per cent limit. According to the Times of India, samples were collected from 63 petrol bunks across the state, with 14 recording ethanol levels above the limit.
The minister stated that tests conducted by the Shriram Research Institute in Bengaluru showed ethanol content of 31.2 per cent in Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) samples and 30.5 per cent in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) samples. Other recorded levels included 26.5 per cent in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) Speed, 26.1 per cent in Nayara, and 25.5 per cent in Shell.
Arshad expressed concerns that 99 per cent of vehicles cannot handle fuel beyond E20 and that excessive blending could damage components such as fuel pumps, injectors, and seals. He also sought the creation of an E20 compensation fund to protect motorists from reduced mileage or maintenance costs.
Public sector undertakings (PSUs) denied the claims, stating they were not supported by tests conducted under statutory and technical procedures. Fuel retailers reported that 56 samples from Karnataka tested in a nationwide drive were found to be within the prescribed 19-21 per cent range.