E20 petrol: Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL dispute Karnataka ethanol test claims

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) disputed Karnataka government claims that petrol at some outlets had 26-31 per cent ethanol. The state-run oil marketing companies questioned how samples were collected and tested. The companies said E20 petrol across their retail networks in Karnataka met IS 17021 limits of 19-21 per cent ethanol.

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In a joint statement, the three companies said the Karnataka findings lacked support from tests done under set statutory steps. The companies also raised concerns about third-party laboratory certificates. The certificates, the companies said, did not show enough method details. That gap, they said, blocked independent checks of the stated ethanol percentage.

Karnataka E20 petrol testing process and sampling rules

The disagreement traced back to an October 2026 exercise by Karnataka’s Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology. Karnataka said samples from certain retail outlets showed ethanol above the allowed limit. The OMCs said an earlier September exercise sent samples via the State Level Coordinator to OMC labs. The companies said October sampling happened without OMC representatives.

The companies said sampling rules under the 2005 Control Order, read with MDG 2024, require six one-litre samples. Two samples must go to the dealer with acknowledgement. Two are kept by the oil company or department. Two must go to a notified laboratory. Labels must be jointly signed, and results shared within set timelines.

The OMCs said they did not receive retention samples, outlet-wise details, or laboratory reports for October. The companies said they sought these through the state-level coordinator. The companies said the missing material stopped dealers and OMCs from verifying results. The companies also said it blocked any request for retesting under the defined process.

Karnataka E20 petrol lab method questions and density mismatch

The companies also questioned the lab method listed in the certificates. Under IS 17021:2018, amended in August 2025, ethanol in E20 must be measured using set methods. These include Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, water extraction, or gas chromatography under ASTM standards. The OMCs said the certificates only noted gas chromatography, without test standards or key steps.

Where gas chromatography is used, the standard requires dilution in a 1:1 ratio with oxygenate-free petrol. The result must then be corrected against an E10 certified reference material. The OMCs said the Karnataka certificates did not state the dilution step. The companies also said the certificates did not name any reference material. They said this prevented validation of the 26-31 per cent figures.

The OMCs also pointed to density values mentioned in the certificates. The certificates reportedly listed densities of 0.742-0.749 grams per cubic centimetre for samples said to contain 26-31 per cent ethanol. The companies said their E20 samples showed 0.752-0.760 grams per cubic centimetre. Since ethanol is denser than petrol, the companies said higher ethanol should raise density.

E20 petrol quality checks by OMC and CHT across India

To counter the Karnataka figures, the companies cited a national monitoring effort under the OMC/CHT Quality Coordination Cell. The exercise involved the Centre for High Technology (CHT) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The companies said 893 E20 samples from depots and retail outlets were tested. The samples covered 27 states and Union Territories, using refinery and OMC quality-control laboratories.

All 893 samples fell within 19-21 per cent ethanol, the companies said. The set also included 56 samples from Karnataka, drawn from different locations and across all three OMCs. Those Karnataka samples showed 19-20 per cent ethanol, the companies said. The companies said the Karnataka average was 19.30 per cent, based on the stated results.

The companies said blending at refineries and depots used calibrated, automated proportioning systems. The companies said quality-control rules governed each step. The companies added that blending was not manual or arbitrary. They also rejected claims of a profit motive to exceed blending norms. The companies said buying extra ethanol would raise costs, not reduce them.

E20 petrol mileage loss estimates and vehicle repair cost claims

The companies challenged estimates in the controversy that E20 could cause yearly mileage losses of about Rs 62,000 crore. They also questioned a Rs 39,000 crore estimate for vehicle repairs, with a combined claim near Rs 1.01 lakh crore. The companies said such numbers needed scientific proof. They said the figures could not rest on a flat assumption of 10 per cent mileage loss nationwide.

The companies said more than 30 crore two-wheelers and 4 crore four-wheelers had used E20 fuel for over three years. They also said more than 6 crore people visited petrol pumps daily. The companies said there were no reports of widespread vehicle breakdowns. They said this mattered when weighing concerns about fuel quality and vehicle performance.

Citing the Petroleum Ministry’s August 12, 2025 response, the companies referred to studies on E20 impacts. The work involved an Inter-Ministerial Committee, Indian Oil, ARAI and SIAM. The ministry assessment said vehicles calibrated for E20 may see mileage reductions of about 1-2 per cent. It also said some other vehicles could see 3-6 per cent, depending on category and calibration.

The companies said the Rs 39,000 crore repair estimate also needed support from real vehicle data. They said materials compatibility studies and documented repair costs were required. The companies said debate should rely on verified evidence. They also said checks should follow the technical steps already set in standards and guidelines.

India E20 petrol ethanol blending programme data and procurement

The statement also outlined the ethanol-blending programme’s goals and outcomes. The programme began as a pilot in 2001. It aims to cut crude oil imports, support agricultural value chains, and strengthen energy security. The companies said later policy steps expanded it, including the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and the NITI Aayog roadmap for ethanol blending.

Using Petroleum Ministry data, the companies said the programme since the 2014-15 ethanol supply year saved over Rs 1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange. It also substituted about 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil. The companies said it cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 952 lakh metric tonnes. They also said payments of over Rs 1.66 lakh crore went to farmers.

For the 2025-26 ethanol supply year ending October 31, 2026, the OMCs gave procurement figures. The companies said they procured 1,089 crore litres of ethanol. They said they blended 1,134 crore litres, against petrol sales of about 5,673 crore litres. The figures were provided as part of the same joint statement.

The three companies asked Karnataka to share complete sampling records, outlet-wise lab reports, and testing method details. They also sought access to counterpart samples for independent checks at an authorised laboratory. The companies said testing should use the prescribed referee method, with representatives from both sides present. The companies said they were ready for joint sampling under the Control Order and MDG 2024, with any proven deviation handled under guidelines.

With inputs from PTI