Karnataka lab tests show ethanol in petrol exceeds 20 per cent limit
State government alleges several oil companies supplied fuel with ethanol levels as high as 31.2 per cent in Karnataka.
Government-authorised lab tests in Karnataka have found ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed 20 per cent limit in several petrol samples. Food, Civil Supplies and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad shared the results on Friday for samples collected from 63 petrol bunks across districts including Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Dakshina Kannada, Ramanagara and Mangaluru.
According to The Times of India, tests revealed ethanol blending of 31.2 per cent at some Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) bunks and 30.5 per cent at some Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) bunks. Other samples showed levels of 27 per cent at HPCL, 26.5 per cent at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) MS-Speed bunks, 26.1 per cent at Nayara bunks and 25.5 per cent at Shell bunks.
Arshad alleged that initial reports from the in-house laboratories of IOCL and BPCL did not disclose ethanol content, which he claimed was a mandatory testing parameter. He stated the results raised concerns regarding transparency and the consumers' right to know the fuel composition.
The minister estimated that a 10 per cent drop in mileage due to ethanol blending could cost consumers Rs 62,000 crore, based on projected petrol sales between April 2025 and April 2026. The Karnataka government has demanded that the Centre clarify the actual ethanol blend supplied and has called for an E20 spoilage fund to compensate consumers.
IOCL, BPCL and HPCL said their E20 petrol conforms to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications. The oil marketing companies questioned the sampling and testing methodology, noting that samples were collected without their representatives present and that they had not received reports to verify the results.