The three public sector oil marketing companies have reaffirmed their E20 fuel quality standards and challenged the findings published by Karnataka. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) say the E20 petrol they supply conforms to IS 17021. This holds across the country, including Karnataka.
What Did Karnataka Claim About E20 Petrol?
The Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, Government of Karnataka, issued a press release on the issue. It claimed that petrol at certain retail outlets in the State contains 26% to 31% ethanol.
The OMCs say these claims are not supported by testing done under the prescribed statutory and technical procedures. They have taken note of the release and responded point by point.
Why Do the OMCs Question the Sampling Process?
The OMCs have raised concerns about how the October 2026 exercise was carried out. The Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Order, 2005, read with the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) 2024, sets a defined sampling procedure.
Under that procedure:
- Six one-litre samples must be drawn.
- Two go to the dealer against acknowledgement.
- Two are retained by the oil company or department.
- Two go to a laboratory specified under Schedule III of the Control Order or notified in the Official Gazette.
- Sample labels must be jointly signed.
- Results must reach the dealer and the oil company within the prescribed timeframe.
The OMCs say the September 2026 samples followed this route through the State Level Coordinator to designated OMC laboratories. The October exercise, however, reportedly drew samples without OMC representatives present. The OMCs also say they have not received the retention samples, outlet-wise details or laboratory reports, despite asking for them.
They add that the findings rely on certificates from a third-party laboratory, not one specified under the Control Order. This, they say, denied them and the dealers a chance to seek verification or retesting.
Does the Testing Method Meet IS 17021?
A preliminary technical assessment by the OMCs flags several gaps. IS 17021:2018 (Amendment No. 3, August 2025) allows ethanol content in E20 to be measured by three routes:
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) under ASTM D5845.
- Water extraction under Annex C.
- Gas Chromatography under ASTM D4815/D6839.
When gas chromatography is used, the sample must first be diluted 1:1 with oxygenate-free petrol. The result must then be corrected against an E10 certified reference material.
The Karnataka certificates only say “Ethanol % by Gas Chromatography”. They do not state the test standard, the dilution procedure or the reference material. The OMCs therefore say the 26–31% figures cannot be independently validated.
What About the Density Readings?
The OMCs also point to the reported densities. The certificates show 0.742 to 0.749 g/cc for samples said to hold 26–31% ethanol. E20 samples tested in the QCC-1 and QCC-2 surveys recorded 0.752 to 0.760 g/cc.
Ethanol is denser than petrol. A higher ethanol share would normally raise the blend’s density, not lower it. The OMCs say this discrepancy needs verification through the prescribed method.
What Do OMC and CHT Quality Checks Show?
The Centre for High Technology (CHT) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas monitors ethanol blending and fuel quality at OMC retail outlets. Under the OMC/CHT Quality Coordination Cell (QCC) exercise, 893 E20 samples were tested as per IS 17021, Annex C.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total samples tested | 893 |
| IOCL samples | 330 |
| BPCL samples | 280 |
| HPCL samples | 283 |
| States and UTs covered | 27 |
| Prescribed ethanol range | 19–21% |
| Samples within range | All 893 |
In Karnataka, all 56 samples met the specification. They came from different locations and all three OMCs. Ethanol content ranged from 19% to 20%, with an average of 19.30%.
How Is Ethanol Blending Controlled?
The OMCs say blending is not a manual or arbitrary process. Refineries and depots use calibrated systems with automatic proportioning. Blending follows prescribed specifications and quality-control protocols. The OMCs also run quality-assurance systems across their supply networks so that fuel meets BIS specifications before it reaches consumers.
Are the ₹1.01 Lakh Crore Consumer Loss Claims Valid?
The Karnataka release estimated an annual mileage loss of about ₹62,000 crore and vehicle-repair costs of about ₹39,000 crore. Together, that is around ₹1.01 lakh crore. The OMCs say these figures need careful examination.
Their main points:
- Real-world usage: More than 30 crore two-wheelers and 4 crore four-wheelers have run on E20 for over three years. Over 6 crore people refuel at petrol pumps every day. The OMCs say no widespread breakdowns have been reported.
- Mileage impact: The Ministry’s PIB response of August 12, 2025 notes a mileage reduction of about 1–2% for E20-calibrated vehicles. Some other vehicles may see 3–6%, depending on category and calibration.
- Method concerns: A blanket 10% mileage loss assumption is not a scientifically established assessment, according to the OMCs. The repair-cost estimate also needs transparent vehicle-performance data, materials compatibility studies and documented repair costs.
- Technical studies: The Inter-Ministerial Committee, IOCL, ARAI and SIAM have examined performance and compatibility concerns.
What Are the Wider Benefits of Ethanol Blending?
India’s ethanol journey began with a pilot programme in 2001. It has since moved through the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and the NITI Aayog Roadmap for ethanol blending. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme supports lower crude imports, stronger farm value chains and energy security.
According to the Ministry’s FAQ published on July 10, 2026, the programme since ESY 2014-15 has delivered:
- Foreign-exchange savings of more than ₹1.97 lakh crore.
- Substitution of about 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil.
- A reduction of about 952 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
- Transfers of more than ₹1.66 lakh crore to farmers.
In ESY 2025-26, ending October 31, 2026, PSU OMCs procured 1,089 crore litres of ethanol. They blended 1,134 crore litres against petrol sales of about 5,673 crore litres.
The OMCs also reject the idea that they profit from blending beyond the target. Ethanol procurement costs money, and every extra litre blended adds to that cost. They say they have no commercial reason for excess blending.
What Do the OMCs Want Next?
The three OMCs have asked the Karnataka Government for:
- Complete sampling documentation.
- Outlet-wise laboratory reports.
- Details of the test methodology used.
- Access to counterpart samples for independent testing at an authorised laboratory, using the prescribed referee method, in the presence of State Government and OMC representatives.
They say they will cooperate in joint sampling and testing under the Control Order and MDG 2024. Any deviation established through the prescribed procedure will be handled under the applicable guidelines.
Note: This article is based on a joint press release from IOCL, BPCL and HPCL. It reports the OMCs’ position and does not independently verify the test results from either side.
