State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Saturday rejected the Karnataka government’s claim that petrol sold at some retail outlets in the state contained 26-31% ethanol, exceeding the prescribed 20% limit for E20 fuel, and challenged the testing methodology used to arrive at the findings. The companies sought sampling records and laboratory reports from the state government, calling for independent verification.
Petrol sold in seven Karnataka districts contained ethanol concentrations as high as 31.2%, with eleven of 14 samples exceeding the 20% blend specified under the E20 standard, according to a state government statement . They said E20 petrol supplied by them across the country, including Karnataka, conforms to IS 17021, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification for ethanol-blended motor gasoline. Earlier reporting noted: The companies said E20 petrol supplied by them across the country, including Karnataka, conformed to IS 17021, the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for ethanol-blended motor gasoline. Earlier reporting noted: The Karnataka government alleged that major oil marketing companies were supplying petrol with ethanol content above the prescribed 20 per cent limit, with tests recording levels as high as 31.2 per cent, and sought action against the companies.
Sampling and testing of petrol (also called motor spirit or MS) and diesel (also called high speed diesel or HSD) are regulated under the Essential Commodities Act and specified by the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG), according to them. Outlining the prescribed procedures for sampling and testing fuel quality, they said the samples reportedly drawn by the Karnataka government were collected without the participation of OMC representatives. “The OMCs have also not received the corresponding retention samples, complete outlet-wise details or laboratory reports, despite seeking these through the State Level Coordinator,” they said in their joint statement. The three public sector OMCs said the Centre for High Technology (CHT), an arm of the petroleum ministry, has been continuously monitoring ethanol blending and fuel quality across retail outlets. Citing 893 samples of E20 fuel drawn from IOC (330), BPCL (280) and HPCL (283) depots and retail outlets across 27 states and Union Territories, the statement said all 893 samples were found “within the prescribed ethanol content range of 19-21%”. Earlier reporting noted: Addressing a press conference, Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad said the allegations were based on tests on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.
The samples were collected from fuel stations in Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru, covering IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, Nayara Energy, Shell and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited In a joint statement, the three OMCs — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) — on Saturday said, “The OMCs would like to clarify that the claims, as reported, are not supported by testing conducted in accordance with the prescribed statutory and technical procedures.
