Petroleum Ministry disputes Karnataka claims of excess ethanol in petrol
The Centre rejected claims that fuel in Karnataka contained up to 31 per cent ethanol, asserting all samples met blending standards.
The Petroleum Ministry on Saturday disputed claims by the Karnataka government that petrol at some retail outlets in the state contained 26-31 per cent ethanol. The ministry stated that tests by state-run Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) showed supplies across the country, including Karnataka, complied with the 20 per cent blending standard.
According to The Pioneer, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) questioned the sampling and testing methods used in an October 2026 exercise. The OMCs argued that the reported findings could not be independently verified under statutory and technical standards.
The ministry noted that a quality-monitoring exercise with the Centre for High Technology (CHT) tested 893 E20 samples across 27 states and Union Territories. All 893 samples recorded ethanol content within the 19-21 per cent range. In Karnataka, 56 samples tested across different locations averaged 19.30 per cent ethanol.
The OMCs flagged that samples from the October exercise were reportedly drawn without their representatives present. They also questioned the use of certificates from a third-party laboratory instead of one specified under the Control Order. The companies have requested complete sampling records and access to counterpart samples for independent testing.
The ministry also rejected estimates suggesting E20 fuel caused annual consumer mileage losses of Rs 62,000 crore and repair costs of Rs 39,000 crore. It stated that vehicles calibrated for E20 might see mileage reductions of 1-2 per cent, while others could see declines of 3-6 per cent.