OMCs reject Karnataka’s high-ethanol fuel claim

Bengaluru: State-run oil marketers Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) have rejected the Karnataka government's claim that petrol sold at some retail outlets in the state contained 26-31% ethanol. They stated the findings were not based on prescribed testing procedures and could not be independently verified.

In a joint statement, the three public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) said the E20 petrol supplied across the country, including Karnataka, conforms to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications and undergoes strict quality checks.

The clarification comes after Karnataka's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology claimed that samples collected from petrol pumps showed ethanol levels significantly higher than the mandated 20% blend. The state government had also cited potential losses to consumers through lower fuel efficiency and higher vehicle maintenance costs.

The OMCs questioned both the sampling process and the testing methodology used in the state's October 2026 exercise. Under the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, and the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) 2024, fuel samples must be drawn, retained, tested and documented through a prescribed process involving oil companies, dealers and authorised laboratories.

According to the companies, the October samples were collected without the participation of OMC representatives and the firms were not provided retention samples, outlet-wise laboratory reports or complete technical documentation. They also said the results were based on tests conducted by a third-party laboratory rather than laboratories authorised under the Control Order.

The OMCs further argued that the certificates cited by Karnataka did not specify whether the ethanol content was measured using methods mandated under BIS standard IS 17021. They noted that the reported density readings appeared inconsistent with ethanol levels of 26-31%, which they said warranted independent verification.

To support their position, the companies cited data from the Quality Coordination Cell (QCC) exercise overseen by the Centre for High Technology under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Of 893 E20 samples tested across 27 states and Union Territories, all were found within the prescribed 19-21% ethanol range. Karnataka's 56 samples also met specifications, recording ethanol content between 19% and 20%, they said.

The oil companies emphasised that ethanol blending is carried out through automated systems at refineries and depots and is governed by calibrated processes and quality-control protocols, leaving little scope for arbitrary over-blending.

They also disputed claims that excess ethanol blending causes large-scale consumer losses. Citing studies by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and an inter-ministerial committee, the companies said E20 fuel generally results in mileage reductions of about 1-2% in optimised vehicles and 3-6% in some others, substantially lower than assumptions used in estimates of consumer losses.

India's ethanol blending programme, launched over two decades ago and accelerated under the National Policy on Biofuels and the E20 roadmap, has helped reduce crude oil imports, cut carbon emissions and increase payments to farmers. The OMCs said they had sought complete documentation from the Karnataka government and were ready to participate in a joint, transparent testing exercise using authorised laboratories and prescribed procedures. They maintained that any verified deviation would be addressed as per regulatory guidelines.