OMCs reject Karnataka’s high-ethanol fuel claim

Three major oil marketers - Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum - have dismissed Karnataka's assertion that petrol in certain retail outlets contained 26-31% ethanol. Their statement highlighted the findings were not conducted using proper testing standards and lacked verification. The OMCs clarified that all E20 petrol supplied nationwide, including in Karnataka, adheres to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications and undergoes rigorous quality checks.

Karnataka's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology had claimed that ethanol levels in petrol samples exceeded the mandated 20% blend, citing potential consumer losses due to reduced fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs. However, the OMCs questioned the sampling and testing methods used by Karnataka.

According to the oil companies, the October 2026 samples were collected without OMC representatives' involvement, and they did not receive outlet-specific laboratory reports or technical documentation. They also noted the tests were performed by a third-party lab not authorized under the Control Order.

The oil marketers argued that the certificates provided by Karnataka did not specify the testing methods used, nor did they confirm the ethanol levels fell within the 19-21% range as per BIS standard IS 17021. They pointed out that the reported density readings seemed inconsistent with the claimed ethanol percentages. To bolster their case, the companies cited data from the Quality Coordination Cell exercise conducted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Out of 893 E20 samples tested across 27 states and UTs, all results fell within the prescribed ethanol range of 19-21%, with Karnataka's 56 samples also meeting the specifications.

The oil companies emphasized that ethanol blending is automated in refineries and depots, governed by calibrated processes and quality-control protocols, limiting over-blending opportunities. They also refuted claims of significant consumer losses due to excess ethanol blending, citing studies by ARAI, SIAM and an inter-ministerial committee.

These studies suggested mileage reductions of 1-2% in optimized vehicles and 3-6% in others, significantly lower than the losses estimated in consumer loss calculations. The OMCs requested complete documentation from Karnataka and expressed willingness to participate in a transparent testing exercise using authorized labs and prescribed procedures. They maintained that any verified deviations would be handled according to regulatory guidelines.