E20 fuel: Karnataka govt says oil companies sold petrol with up to 31.2 pc ethanol
According to the test results, samples from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) recorded ethanol content of 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively.
The Karnataka government on Friday (November 6) alleged that major oil marketing companies were supplying petrol with ethanol content exceeding the prescribed 20 per cent limit in the state, with tests recording levels as high as 31.2 per cent, and sought action against the companies.
In a press release, Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad said the allegations were based on tests conducted on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.
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“Lab tests expose illegal over-blending at Karnataka pumps. Samples drawn from all major fuel companies have shown an ethanol blend of more than 20%, with IOCL and HPCL recording a blend percentage of 31.2 and 30.5 respectively,” Arshad said.
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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, in a post on X (Formerly Twitter) slammed the Central government and demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“When the Central Government itself has set a limit of 20% ethanol blend in petrol, how is petrol with more than 30% ethanol being sold to the people? Who is monitoring these oil companies? Who is responsible for this? The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari should answer the people of the country. The report of the test conducted in Karnataka will be submitted to the Central Government,” Parameshwara said.
What tests showed
According to the test results issued by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories-accredited and ISO-certified Shriram Research Institute, Bengaluru, samples from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) recorded ethanol content of 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively.
The results showed ethanol content of 27 per cent in HPCL (MS) petrol, 26.5 per cent in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's (BPCL) Speed petrol, 26.1 per cent in Nayara petrol, 25.5 per cent in Shell petrol, 24.2 per cent and 22.6 per cent in two BPCL samples, 22.4 per cent in another HPCL sample and 20.8 per cent in another IOCL sample, according to the state government.
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Among the remaining samples in the Motor Spirit (MS) category, ethanol content was recorded at 20.6 per cent in Nayara petrol, 19.9 per cent in a BPCL sample, 19.2 per cent in a Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) sample and 13.5 per cent in a Shell sample.
Samples also submitted to IOCL, BPCL labs
The minister said samples drawn from major fuel companies had revealed ethanol content exceeding 20 per cent, with IOCL and HPCL recording levels of 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively.
The press release alleged that the samples were initially submitted to the in-house laboratories of IOCL and BPCL, but their test reports did not disclose the ethanol content, despite it being one of the prescribed testing parameters.
"This omission raises serious questions about the transparency of the oil marketing companies and what they seek to conceal from consumers," it said.
The Karnataka government said consumers were bearing a heavy financial burden due to over-blending, citing reduced mileage and possible damage to vehicle components, including filters, fuel pumps, injectors, hoses and seals.
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It claimed that 99 per cent of India's 35 crore vehicles were not designed to run on ethanol blends exceeding E20 and that even vehicles sold after April 2023 were certified only for blends of up to 20 per cent.
The government raised concerns over fuel dispensing infrastructure, stating that most dispensing units currently in use at petrol pumps were designed to handle blends containing only up to 15 per cent ethanol.
Demand for ethanol labelling at fuel stations
The state government sought action against OMCs found supplying petrol with more than 20 per cent ethanol, compensation for consumers whose vehicles had suffered damage, mandatory nationwide display of ethanol blend percentages at fuel stations and the provision of different fuel blends to give consumers a choice.
It demanded the establishment of an E20 spoilage fund to compensate affected consumers through a time-bound claims process, with vehicle damage certified by authorised service centres.
"The Government of India must publicly clarify the actual ethanol blend being supplied to consumers," the release said.
The minister demanded that every petrol pump across the country be mandated to display the ethanol blend percentage, enabling consumers to make an informed choice among the available fuel blends.
The release said the Karnataka government had empowered officials under the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, to act against malpractices in fuel supply and distribution.
It said the powers had been conferred on designated officials through a notification dated April 15, 2009, and that the government would ensure "an accurate measure and a quality guarantee for every litre its people pay for" under Mission Nikhara, launched by Arshad.