E30 petrol being sold as E20? Karnataka minister claims oil companies are supplying petrol exceeding the 20% ethanol limit

Petrol samples collected from several districts of Karnataka have recorded ethanol content as high as 31.2%, significantly exceeding the prescribed E20 blending limit, according to test findings cited by state Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad. The minister has raised concerns that excessive blending could affect vehicle performance and damage fuel-system components, and has sought action against oil marketing companies (OMCs) found supplying petrol with ethanol levels above the permitted limit, PTI reported.

The samples were collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru and tested by Bengaluru-based Shriram Research Institute, which is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and ISO-certified.

The results showed that petrol supplied by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) recorded the highest ethanol concentrations, at 31.2% and 30.5%, respectively. Several other samples from HPCL, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Nayara and Shell also showed ethanol content above 20%.


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Karnataka petrol tests: Ethanol content recorded by fuel companies

Oil company	Highest ethanol content
IOCL	31.2%
HPCL	30.5%
BPCL	26.5%
Nayara	26.1%
Shell	25.5%
MRPL	19.2%

Note: Other samples from the same companies recorded different ethanol concentrations. IOCL registered another reading of 20.8%; HPCL recorded 27% and 22.4%; BPCL recorded 24.2%, 22.6% and 19.9%; Nayara recorded 20.6%; and Shell recorded 13.5%.

The test results cited by the Karnataka government showed varying ethanol concentrations across petrol samples from different companies. Listed below are the reported readings in descending order.The minister said the findings raised questions about the quality of petrol being supplied to consumers and whether fuel companies were adhering to the prescribed blending limit. The government also alleged that reports from the in-house laboratories of IOCL and BPCL had not disclosed ethanol concentrations, even though ethanol content was among the parameters that were required to be tested.

How excess ethanol blending could affect vehicle engines

The Karnataka government has warned that petrol containing ethanol beyond the E20 limit could create problems for vehicles that are not designed or certified to use higher blends.

Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel that is blended with petrol to reduce dependence on conventional fossil fuels. However, vehicles and fuel systems need to be compatible with the concentration of ethanol in the fuel. Higher ethanol blends can pose compatibility concerns for components not designed to handle them.

The state government has specifically flagged the possibility of damage to fuel filters, pumps, injectors, hoses and seals. It has also linked higher ethanol content to reduced fuel efficiency and lower mileage, which could increase the cost of running vehicles.

The government claimed that around 99% of India's 35 crore vehicles were not designed to operate on ethanol blends exceeding E20. It further said that vehicles sold after April 2023 were also certified for blends of up to 20% ethanol.

Another concern raised by the state relates to petrol-pump infrastructure. The government said most fuel dispensing units currently in use were designed to handle petrol containing up to 15% ethanol, raising questions about their compatibility with higher blends.

These are concerns raised by the Karnataka government; the test results cited in the statement do not, by themselves, establish that the sampled fuel has caused damage to particular vehicles.

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Karnataka seeks action against oil companies, compensation for consumers

Following the test findings, the state government has demanded action against oil marketing companies found supplying petrol with ethanol content above 20%. It has also called for compensation for consumers whose vehicles may have suffered damage because of excessive blending.

Among its demands is a nationwide requirement for petrol pumps to prominently display the percentage of ethanol in the fuel being sold. The state wants consumers to be informed about the blend before purchasing petrol and to have access to different fuel blends.

The government has also proposed setting up an E20 spoilage fund to compensate affected vehicle owners. Under the proposed arrangement, consumers would be able to submit claims within a time-bound process, with vehicle damage assessed and certified by authorised service centres.

Arshad said the Centre should publicly disclose the actual ethanol concentrations being supplied to consumers. He also questioned the benefits of the ethanol-blending programme for motorists, arguing that the foreign-exchange savings cited in support of the policy had not resulted in tangible financial relief for consumers.

The minister said the Union ministers handling road transport and highways and petroleum and natural gas should explain the findings and address consumers' concerns.

Karnataka invokes fuel supply rules to check malpractices

The state government said it had authorised designated officials to take action against irregularities in the supply and distribution of petrol and high-speed diesel under the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005.

These powers were conferred through a government notification issued on April 15, 2009. The state said it would use the provisions to monitor fuel quality and take action wherever violations were detected.

The minister has also launched Mission Nikhara, under which the government intends to ensure accurate measurement and quality assurance for fuel sold to consumers. Karnataka said it would continue collecting and testing petrol samples across the state and make the findings public.