E20 Petrol Quality Confirmed: 893 Samples Across 27 States Pass Norms
Ministry of Petroleum refutes Karnataka's claims of excessive ethanol blending after 893 fuel samples across 27 states pass quality tests.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has dismissed claims of excessive ethanol blending in fuel, confirming that all 893 samples of E20 petrol quality norms have been met across 27 States and Union Territories. The findings, based on tests from public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs), refute allegations that fuel was being blended beyond the prescribed limits.
The Karnataka Controversy
This official clarification comes in response to assertions made by the Government of Karnataka's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology. The state authorities had claimed that motor spirit sold at certain retail outlets in Karnataka contained ethanol levels ranging between 26 per cent and 31 per cent, significantly higher than the mandated limit.
However, the Ministry revealed that within Karnataka, all 56 samples tested actually registered an average blending level of 19.30 per cent, falling well within the acceptable range.
Rigorous Testing and Compliance
The quality monitoring was conducted by the Centre for High Technology under the Ministry. The audit covered a vast network of retail points, including:
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL): 330 retail points
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL): 280 retail points
- Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL): 283 retail points
All these samples complied with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification IS 17021, which mandates a blending range of 19 per cent to 21 per cent.
Procedural Lapses in State Testing
The Ministry pointed out that the exercise conducted in Karnataka in October 2026 bypassed the statutory sampling procedures outlined in the Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 and the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Control Order, 2005.
According to the prescribed legal procedure, six one-litre samples must be drawn: two for the dealer, two for the oil company or department, and two for a certified laboratory. The Ministry noted that the Karnataka authorities failed to provide retention samples, outlet details, or certified laboratory documentation.
Furthermore, the Ministry criticized the certificates provided by the state, stating they merely mentioned "Ethanol % by Gas Chromatography" without specifying the standard test method, dilution procedure, or reference material used, making the figures impossible to validate under IS 17021.
Technical Inconsistencies
Technical assessments also highlighted a major red flag in the state's data. The third-party facility reported density figures between 0.742 and 0.749 g/cc. Experts noted that higher ethanol content naturally increases blend density, making the reported low density inconsistent with the claim of 26–31 per cent ethanol blending.
Impact on Vehicles and Economy
Addressing concerns regarding vehicle damage and financial loss to consumers, the Ministry cited studies conducted with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The findings show:
- Mileage: Actual reductions in mileage remain between 1 per cent and 6 per cent, depending on the specific vehicle calibration.
- Reliability: Over 34 crore vehicles are currently using this fuel nationwide without widespread mechanical failures.
No Incentive for Excess Blending
The three state-run OMCs—IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL—emphasized that ethanol blending is a controlled, automated process governed by statutory guidelines, leaving no room for manual intervention. They further argued that there is no commercial reason to blend excess ethanol, as doing so would only increase procurement expenditures for the companies.
For the ethanol supply year 2025-26 ending October 31, 2026, state refiners blended a total of 1,134 crore litres of ethanol, all while maintaining adherence to the BIS specifications.