Government tightens ethanol blend rules for OMCs

New Delhi: Government is considering making it binding on oil marketing companies and others in the automotive fuel supply ecosystem to meet the existing limit of less than 3 parts per million (ppm) of chloride contamination in E20 petrol, amid automakers' concern over fuel quality and its impact on vehicle components.

The threshold is currently part of the voluntary quality specifications for ethanol-blended petrol. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which lays down fuel-quality standards, is working on making the contamination-related requirement compulsory.

"We want to make the limits for contaminants mandatory," said an official, adding this will help ensure better quality standards.


The move follows automakers' flagging instances of elevated chloride levels and excess moisture in E20 petrol being supplied at fuel stations. They have linked such contamination to a rise in failures of certain vehicle parts.

India has achieved its target of blending 20% ethanol with petrol five years ahead of original plan. The quality concerns assume significance as policymakers and the industry discuss the possibility of moving towards higher ethanol blends in the future.

Fuel samples collected from vehicle tanks have, in some instances, displayed high chloride concentrations, causing concern about quality.