Oil companies have rejected claims that petrol sold in Karnataka contained ethanol in excess of the prescribed limit. The companies stated that the testing was not conducted in accordance with established standards.
Public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have dismissed a claim from Karnataka alleging that petrol sold at certain retail outlets in the state contained up to 31% ethanol. The companies assert that these findings are not based on testing conducted according to established protocols.
Allegations by the Karnataka government
The Karnataka government has alleged that major Oil Marketing Companies are supplying petrol containing ethanol levels that exceed the permitted limit (20%). According to the state government, testing revealed ethanol levels as high as 31.2%. Consequently, the Karnataka government has urged the central government to take action against these companies.
Testing based on samples from these locations
In a press conference, Rizwan Arshad, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, and Legal Metrology, stated that these allegations are based on tests conducted on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru, and Tumakuru.
Claim of 26% to 31% ethanol
In a joint statement issued on Friday, BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited), IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Limited), and HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited) acknowledged the statement made by the state’s Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, and Legal Metrology, which claimed that petrol sold at certain retail outlets contained between 26% and 31% ethanol. Questions Raised Regarding the Claim
The statement clarifies that the claims made do not align with the results of tests conducted in accordance with established legal and technical procedures. The oil marketing companies stated that the E20 petrol they supply across the country—including in Karnataka—complies with the ‘Bureau of Indian Standards’ (BIS) IS 17021 standard, which is the prescribed standard for ethanol-blended motor gasoline.
