Centre rejects Karnataka's claim of excessive ethanol in petrol samples
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said 893 fuel samples across 27 states met quality standards, contradicting Karnataka's findings.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Saturday defended the 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol programme, stating that 893 samples collected across 27 states and Union Territories met prescribed quality standards. According to Business Standard, the ministry said these tests, which included 56 samples from Karnataka, found the fuel compliant with Bureau of Indian Standards specifications.
The clarification follows allegations from the Karnataka government that petrol at certain retail outlets contained ethanol levels between 26 per cent and 31.2 per cent. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara and Minister Rizwan Arshad alleged that tests conducted in seven districts showed blending levels exceeding the 20 per cent limit set by the Centre.
State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs), including Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), have challenged the Karnataka findings. The companies argued that the state's October testing exercise was conducted without their representatives and that they have not received the necessary laboratory reports or retention samples to validate the results.
The OMCs also questioned the technical details of the third-party laboratory certificates, noting a lack of information regarding dilution procedures and test methods. They noted that the density readings in the reported high-ethanol samples were lower than expected, as ethanol is denser than petrol.
Addressing concerns over vehicle impact, the ministry disputed estimates that E20 fuel could cause Rs 1.01 lakh crore in annual losses to consumers. Citing technical studies, the ministry stated that mileage reductions for E20-compatible vehicles are approximately 1-2 per cent, while other vehicles may see declines of 3-6 per cent.