The Crossbill News Desk
The Karnataka government has intensified its challenge to oil marketing companies (OMCs) over alleged excess ethanol blending in petrol, insisting that its laboratory findings showing ethanol content above the mandated 20% limit are scientifically sound. The state has also questioned the failure of the companies to disclose the ethanol percentage in samples tested by their own laboratories.
At a press conference on Monday (November 9), Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad said the state had followed all prescribed procedures for collecting and testing petrol samples before concluding that the ethanol content exceeded the permissible limit, reported Deccan Herald.
He challenged the OMCs to disclose the actual ethanol content in the 63 samples collected from petrol pumps across seven districts of the state.
“Why did you not invite us for a joint inspection when we asked you to provide the results of those 63 samples. You did not give us a clear report and forced us to approach a third-party laboratory. Now you are disputing that report as well,” said Rizwan.
The minister accused the companies of avoiding the central issue by raising technical objections to the state government's findings. He said their response was long on technicalities but failed to address the “one question that matters: how much ethanol is in the petrol at our pumps?”
He also criticised the BJP-led Union government for failing to provide consumers with clear information about the actual ethanol content in petrol sold across the country.
“Instead of addressing our findings with scientific evidence, the Union Government has responded through Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), leaving one crucial question unanswered: What is the actual ethanol content in the petrol sold to consumers?” Rizwan posted on X.
According to a statement from the minister's office, the initial 63 samples were sent to the respective laboratories of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). However, none of the test reports provided by these laboratories mentioned the ethanol percentage in the samples.
“I want to assure everyone in the country that the government of Karnataka stands by its report and its claim that oil marketing companies are blending more than 20% ethanol in petrol. This can cause serious damage to vehicle engines and place an additional financial burden on ordinary people,” Arshad told reporters.
Rejecting the companies' argument that any irregularities could have taken place at individual petrol outlets, the minister maintained that ethanol blending was an automated and controlled process undertaken at designated terminals.
“This is not an ordinary adulteration issue involving a few outlets. Ethanol has to be blended at the terminals. As far as my knowledge goes, Karnataka has six such terminals where oil marketing companies blend ethanol,” said Arshad.
On November 6, Arshad had presented findings from the Karnataka Legal Metrology Department, which examined 63 petrol samples collected across seven districts. The reported results indicated that four out of every five samples contained ethanol in excess of the prescribed 20% blending limit.
The findings showed substantial variations across different oil companies. An IOCL sample recorded an ethanol concentration of 31.2%, while samples from HPCL registered 30.5% and 27%. The corresponding figures were 26.5% for BPCL, 26.1% for Nayara Energy and 25.5% for Shell.
The Karnataka government has demanded action against the oil marketing companies and proposed that consumers be compensated through a dedicated fund if the allegations are established. It has also sought the restoration of the option to purchase E10 petrol, which was available to vehicle owners before the mandatory transition to E20 fuel.
The dispute has raised questions over the monitoring of ethanol blending standards and the availability of accurate information for consumers, with the Karnataka government insisting that the OMCs disclose the actual composition of petrol being sold at retail outlets.
At a press conference on Monday (November 9), Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad said the state had followed all prescribed procedures for collecting and testing petrol samples before concluding that the ethanol content exceeded the permissible limit, reported Deccan Herald.
He challenged the OMCs to disclose the actual ethanol content in the 63 samples collected from petrol pumps across seven districts of the state.
“Why did you not invite us for a joint inspection when we asked you to provide the results of those 63 samples. You did not give us a clear report and forced us to approach a third-party laboratory. Now you are disputing that report as well,” said Rizwan.
The minister accused the companies of avoiding the central issue by raising technical objections to the state government's findings. He said their response was long on technicalities but failed to address the “one question that matters: how much ethanol is in the petrol at our pumps?”
He also criticised the BJP-led Union government for failing to provide consumers with clear information about the actual ethanol content in petrol sold across the country.
“Instead of addressing our findings with scientific evidence, the Union Government has responded through Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), leaving one crucial question unanswered: What is the actual ethanol content in the petrol sold to consumers?” Rizwan posted on X.
According to a statement from the minister's office, the initial 63 samples were sent to the respective laboratories of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). However, none of the test reports provided by these laboratories mentioned the ethanol percentage in the samples.
“I want to assure everyone in the country that the government of Karnataka stands by its report and its claim that oil marketing companies are blending more than 20% ethanol in petrol. This can cause serious damage to vehicle engines and place an additional financial burden on ordinary people,” Arshad told reporters.
Rejecting the companies' argument that any irregularities could have taken place at individual petrol outlets, the minister maintained that ethanol blending was an automated and controlled process undertaken at designated terminals.
“This is not an ordinary adulteration issue involving a few outlets. Ethanol has to be blended at the terminals. As far as my knowledge goes, Karnataka has six such terminals where oil marketing companies blend ethanol,” said Arshad.
On November 6, Arshad had presented findings from the Karnataka Legal Metrology Department, which examined 63 petrol samples collected across seven districts. The reported results indicated that four out of every five samples contained ethanol in excess of the prescribed 20% blending limit.
The findings showed substantial variations across different oil companies. An IOCL sample recorded an ethanol concentration of 31.2%, while samples from HPCL registered 30.5% and 27%. The corresponding figures were 26.5% for BPCL, 26.1% for Nayara Energy and 25.5% for Shell.
The Karnataka government has demanded action against the oil marketing companies and proposed that consumers be compensated through a dedicated fund if the allegations are established. It has also sought the restoration of the option to purchase E10 petrol, which was available to vehicle owners before the mandatory transition to E20 fuel.
The dispute has raised questions over the monitoring of ethanol blending standards and the availability of accurate information for consumers, with the Karnataka government insisting that the OMCs disclose the actual composition of petrol being sold at retail outlets.
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