New Delhi, November 7, 2026: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) have challenged recent claims by the Karnataka government regarding excessive ethanol content in petrol, stating that E20 fuel supplied by public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) nationwide, including Karnataka, conforms to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification IS 17021.
The three OMCs said all 893 E20 petrol samples collected from 27 states and union territories, including 56 from Karnataka, were found within the prescribed ethanol content range of 19–21%. These findings contrast with the Karnataka Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology’s assertion that certain retail outlets in the state sold petrol containing 26–31% ethanol.
Concerns over sampling and testing
The OMCs raised concerns about the sampling and testing methodology used in the October 2026 exercise, noting that the process did not follow the statutory procedures outlined in the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, and the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) 2024. They pointed out that samples were reportedly collected without OMC representatives present, and that neither counterpart samples nor complete laboratory reports were provided despite requests via the State Level Coordinator.
The companies also highlighted that the certificates cited by the Karnataka government were issued by a third-party laboratory not specified under the Control Order, and lacked technical details necessary for independent verification of the reported ethanol content. The absence of prescribed documentation and retention samples prevented OMCs and dealers from seeking verification or retesting.
Testing methods and technical discrepancies
According to the OMCs, IS 17021:2018 (Amendment No. 3, August 2025) mandates that ethanol content in E20 fuel be determined using specific methods, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) under ASTM D5845, water extraction under Annex C, or Gas Chromatography under ASTM D4815/D6839. The certificates referenced by the Karnataka government only mentioned “Ethanol % by Gas Chromatography” without specifying the standard method, dilution procedures, or reference materials used, making independent validation impossible.
The OMCs also noted a discrepancy in reported density readings: the Karnataka certificates listed densities of 0.742 to 0.749 g/cc for samples with 26–31% ethanol, lower than the 0.752–0.760 g/cc range found in OMC-tested E20 samples. Since ethanol is denser than petrol, a higher ethanol proportion would typically result in increased density, further underscoring the need for prescribed testing and verification.
Quality monitoring and programme impact
The Centre for High Technology (CHT), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, regularly monitors ethanol blending and fuel quality at OMC retail outlets. During the latest Quality Coordination Cell (QCC) exercise, 893 E20 samples from IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL depots and retail outlets were tested as per IS 17021, with all samples meeting the ethanol content specification. In Karnataka, all 56 samples tested from various locations and OMCs recorded ethanol content between 19% and 20%, averaging 19.30%.
The OMCs emphasised that ethanol blending at refineries and depots is a controlled, automated process governed by established calibration and quality protocols, ensuring compliance with BIS standards before fuel reaches consumers.
Assessment of consumer impact and programme benefits
The companies questioned claims of annual consumer mileage loss of ₹62,000 crore and vehicle repair costs of ₹39,000 crore, noting that over 30 crore two-wheelers and 4 crore four-wheelers have used E20 fuel for more than three years without widespread vehicle breakdowns. Studies by IOCL, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), as well as the Inter-Ministerial Committee, have found that vehicles calibrated for E20 may experience a mileage reduction of 1–2%, with some others seeing a 3–6% reduction depending on vehicle type and calibration. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in a Press Information Bureau release dated August 12, 2025, stated that applying a uniform 10% mileage loss to estimate nationwide consumer losses is not scientifically established.
The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, launched in 2001, aims to reduce crude oil imports, strengthen domestic agriculture, and enhance energy security. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, since Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2014–15, the programme has saved over ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substituted about 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, reduced CO₂ emissions by approximately 952 lakh metric tonnes, and transferred more than ₹1.66 lakh crore to farmers. During ESY 2025–26, ending October 31, 2026, PSU OMCs procured 1,089 crore litres of ethanol and blended 1,134 crore litres against petrol sales of about 5,673 crore litres, moving towards the national 20% blending target.
Request for transparency and further verification
The OMCs have requested the Karnataka government to share full sampling documentation, outlet-wise laboratory reports, and details of the test methodology used for the reported findings. They have also sought access to counterpart samples for independent testing at an authorised laboratory, in the presence of representatives from both the state government and OMCs. The companies reiterated their commitment to cooperate with authorities for joint sampling and testing, and to uphold product quality, regulatory compliance, and consumer protection across their nationwide supply and distribution networks.
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