IOCL, BPCL and HPCL defend E20 petrol quality, questioning Karnataka's claim of 26–31% ethanol content. Nationwide tests found all 893 samples within BIS limits.
Kolkata : India’s three major public sector oil marketing companies, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), have strongly defended the quality of E20 petrol supplied across the country, questioning the sampling and testing procedures behind Karnataka’s claim that petrol at certain retail outlets contained 26–31% ethanol. The companies have maintained that the fuel supplied through their networks complies with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification IS 17021 for ethanol-blended motor gasoline. In a statement issued on November 6, 2026, the three companies said the allegations reported by Karnataka’s Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology could not be independently verified through the prescribed statutory testing procedures. They also raised concerns over the methodology followed during the state’s October 2026 inspection exercise, arguing that the sampling process did not comply with the requirements laid down under the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, and the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) 2024.
Under the prescribed rules, six one-litre samples must be collected from a retail outlet. Two samples are to be handed over to the dealer against acknowledgement, two retained by the oil company or the concerned department, and the remaining two sent to an authorised laboratory. The sample labels must carry joint signatures, while the test results have to be communicated to the dealer and the oil company within the stipulated period. According to the OMCs, samples collected during the September 2026 inspection were routed through the State Level Coordinator and tested at designated company laboratories. However, the subsequent October exercise reportedly took place without the participation of OMC representatives. The companies claimed that they had not received the corresponding retained samples, outlet-wise information or complete laboratory reports despite seeking the documents through the State Level Coordinator. They also questioned the use of certificates issued by a third-party laboratory instead of a laboratory authorised under the relevant regulatory framework.
The oil companies have further challenged the technical basis of the ethanol measurements cited in the Karnataka report. According to IS 17021:2018, as amended in August 2025, ethanol content in E20 petrol must be determined through specified procedures, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) under ASTM D5845, water extraction under Annex C, or Gas Chromatography under ASTM D4815/D6839. In cases where Gas Chromatography is used, the sample must first be diluted in a 1:1 ratio with oxygenate-free petrol, followed by correction against an E10 certified reference material. The companies said the certificates cited by the Karnataka government merely mentioned ethanol percentage measured through Gas Chromatography without identifying the specific standard, dilution procedure or reference material used. This, they argued, made it impossible to independently validate the reported ethanol concentration of 26–31%. They also pointed to discrepancies in the density readings. The Karnataka certificates reportedly recorded density levels between 0.742 and 0.749 g/cc, whereas samples tested by the OMCs under their QCC-1 and QCC-2 surveys showed values ranging from 0.752 to 0.760 g/cc. Since ethanol has a higher density than petrol, the companies argued that a higher ethanol proportion would ordinarily be expected to increase the density of the blended fuel.
To support their position, IOCL, BPCL and HPCL cited a nationwide quality-monitoring exercise conducted in coordination with the Centre for High Technology (CHT) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. A total of 893 E20 samples collected from company depots and retail outlets across 27 states and Union Territories were tested at refinery and OMC quality-control laboratories in accordance with IS 17021, Annex C. The samples included 330 from IOCL, 280 from BPCL and 283 from HPCL. All 893 samples were found to contain ethanol within the prescribed range of 19–21%. Of particular significance, all 56 samples collected from different locations in Karnataka and covering the three oil marketing companies also met the required specifications. Their ethanol content ranged between 19% and 20%, with an average of 19.30%. The companies said these findings contradicted the substantially higher figures mentioned in the Karnataka government's press release and called for a transparent, scientifically sound and jointly verifiable testing exercise.
The OMCs also emphasised that ethanol blending is carried out through automated and calibrated systems at refineries and depots rather than through manual or arbitrary processes. According to them, automatic proportioning arrangements and established quality-control mechanisms ensure that the blended petrol meets the applicable BIS standards before reaching consumers. They also questioned claims that E20 petrol could cause an annual consumer mileage loss of approximately ₹62,000 crore and vehicle repair expenses of around ₹39,000 crore, taking the estimated financial impact to nearly ₹1.01 lakh crore. The companies argued that such projections required scientific verification and could not be based on blanket assumptions. They pointed out that more than 30 crore two-wheelers and four crore four-wheelers had been using E20 fuel for over three years, while more than six crore people visit petrol pumps every day. According to the OMCs, no widespread pattern of vehicle breakdowns attributable to E20 fuel has been reported on a scale that would substantiate the allegations.
Citing studies conducted by the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Indian Oil Corporation, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the companies said the impact of E20 on mileage depends on vehicle category and engine calibration. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in its response titled 'Response to Concerns on Blending of Ethanol in Petrol and Beyond', published by the Press Information Bureau on August 12, 2025, had indicated that vehicles calibrated for E20 could experience a mileage reduction of around 1–2%. For certain other vehicles, the reduction could be approximately 3–6%, depending on their category and calibration. The OMCs maintained that applying a uniform assumption of 10% mileage loss across all vehicles to arrive at a national consumer-loss estimate of ₹62,000 crore was not scientifically justified. They also said the projected vehicle repair expenditure of ₹39,000 crore needed to be backed by actual vehicle-performance records, material compatibility studies and documented repair costs.
Defending the broader economic rationale of the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, the companies highlighted its contribution to reducing India's dependence on imported crude oil, supporting domestic agriculture and strengthening energy security. The programme, which began as a pilot initiative in 2001, has evolved through policy interventions such as the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and the NITI Aayog roadmap for ethanol blending. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas' frequently asked questions on the programme, published on July 10, 2026, ethanol blending since the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2014-15 has generated foreign exchange savings of more than ₹1.97 lakh crore, substituted approximately 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by around 952 lakh metric tonnes. The programme has also resulted in transfers exceeding ₹1.66 lakh crore to farmers, according to the ministry's figures. During ESY 2025-26, which ended on October 31, 2026, the public sector OMCs procured 1,089 crore litres of ethanol and blended 1,134 crore litres against petrol sales of approximately 5,673 crore litres as part of the national 20% blending target. The companies also rejected the suggestion that they had a commercial incentive to blend ethanol beyond the prescribed level, arguing that additional procurement would increase their costs without providing a corresponding commercial advantage.
Seeking to resolve the dispute, the three oil marketing companies have requested the Karnataka government to provide complete sampling records, outlet-wise laboratory reports and details of the testing methods used in the October exercise. They have also sought access to the retained counterpart samples so that independent tests can be conducted at an authorised laboratory using the prescribed reference method in the presence of representatives from both sides. The companies said they were willing to cooperate with the state government and other competent authorities in a joint sampling and testing exercise in accordance with the relevant regulations and the MDG 2024. They added that any deviation established through the prescribed procedure would be addressed under the applicable guidelines, while reiterating their commitment to fuel quality, regulatory compliance and consumer protection.
Kolkata : India’s three major public sector oil marketing companies, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), have strongly defended the quality of E20 petrol supplied across the country, questioning the sampling and testing procedures behind Karnataka’s claim that petrol at certain retail outlets contained 26–31% ethanol. The companies have maintained that the fuel supplied through their networks complies with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification IS 17021 for ethanol-blended motor gasoline. In a statement issued on November 6, 2026, the three companies said the allegations reported by Karnataka’s Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology could not be independently verified through the prescribed statutory testing procedures. They also raised concerns over the methodology followed during the state’s October 2026 inspection exercise, arguing that the sampling process did not comply with the requirements laid down under the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, and the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) 2024.
Under the prescribed rules, six one-litre samples must be collected from a retail outlet. Two samples are to be handed over to the dealer against acknowledgement, two retained by the oil company or the concerned department, and the remaining two sent to an authorised laboratory. The sample labels must carry joint signatures, while the test results have to be communicated to the dealer and the oil company within the stipulated period. According to the OMCs, samples collected during the September 2026 inspection were routed through the State Level Coordinator and tested at designated company laboratories. However, the subsequent October exercise reportedly took place without the participation of OMC representatives. The companies claimed that they had not received the corresponding retained samples, outlet-wise information or complete laboratory reports despite seeking the documents through the State Level Coordinator. They also questioned the use of certificates issued by a third-party laboratory instead of a laboratory authorised under the relevant regulatory framework.
The oil companies have further challenged the technical basis of the ethanol measurements cited in the Karnataka report. According to IS 17021:2018, as amended in August 2025, ethanol content in E20 petrol must be determined through specified procedures, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) under ASTM D5845, water extraction under Annex C, or Gas Chromatography under ASTM D4815/D6839. In cases where Gas Chromatography is used, the sample must first be diluted in a 1:1 ratio with oxygenate-free petrol, followed by correction against an E10 certified reference material. The companies said the certificates cited by the Karnataka government merely mentioned ethanol percentage measured through Gas Chromatography without identifying the specific standard, dilution procedure or reference material used. This, they argued, made it impossible to independently validate the reported ethanol concentration of 26–31%. They also pointed to discrepancies in the density readings. The Karnataka certificates reportedly recorded density levels between 0.742 and 0.749 g/cc, whereas samples tested by the OMCs under their QCC-1 and QCC-2 surveys showed values ranging from 0.752 to 0.760 g/cc. Since ethanol has a higher density than petrol, the companies argued that a higher ethanol proportion would ordinarily be expected to increase the density of the blended fuel.
To support their position, IOCL, BPCL and HPCL cited a nationwide quality-monitoring exercise conducted in coordination with the Centre for High Technology (CHT) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. A total of 893 E20 samples collected from company depots and retail outlets across 27 states and Union Territories were tested at refinery and OMC quality-control laboratories in accordance with IS 17021, Annex C. The samples included 330 from IOCL, 280 from BPCL and 283 from HPCL. All 893 samples were found to contain ethanol within the prescribed range of 19–21%. Of particular significance, all 56 samples collected from different locations in Karnataka and covering the three oil marketing companies also met the required specifications. Their ethanol content ranged between 19% and 20%, with an average of 19.30%. The companies said these findings contradicted the substantially higher figures mentioned in the Karnataka government's press release and called for a transparent, scientifically sound and jointly verifiable testing exercise.
The OMCs also emphasised that ethanol blending is carried out through automated and calibrated systems at refineries and depots rather than through manual or arbitrary processes. According to them, automatic proportioning arrangements and established quality-control mechanisms ensure that the blended petrol meets the applicable BIS standards before reaching consumers. They also questioned claims that E20 petrol could cause an annual consumer mileage loss of approximately ₹62,000 crore and vehicle repair expenses of around ₹39,000 crore, taking the estimated financial impact to nearly ₹1.01 lakh crore. The companies argued that such projections required scientific verification and could not be based on blanket assumptions. They pointed out that more than 30 crore two-wheelers and four crore four-wheelers had been using E20 fuel for over three years, while more than six crore people visit petrol pumps every day. According to the OMCs, no widespread pattern of vehicle breakdowns attributable to E20 fuel has been reported on a scale that would substantiate the allegations.
Citing studies conducted by the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Indian Oil Corporation, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the companies said the impact of E20 on mileage depends on vehicle category and engine calibration. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in its response titled 'Response to Concerns on Blending of Ethanol in Petrol and Beyond', published by the Press Information Bureau on August 12, 2025, had indicated that vehicles calibrated for E20 could experience a mileage reduction of around 1–2%. For certain other vehicles, the reduction could be approximately 3–6%, depending on their category and calibration. The OMCs maintained that applying a uniform assumption of 10% mileage loss across all vehicles to arrive at a national consumer-loss estimate of ₹62,000 crore was not scientifically justified. They also said the projected vehicle repair expenditure of ₹39,000 crore needed to be backed by actual vehicle-performance records, material compatibility studies and documented repair costs.
Defending the broader economic rationale of the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, the companies highlighted its contribution to reducing India's dependence on imported crude oil, supporting domestic agriculture and strengthening energy security. The programme, which began as a pilot initiative in 2001, has evolved through policy interventions such as the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and the NITI Aayog roadmap for ethanol blending. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas' frequently asked questions on the programme, published on July 10, 2026, ethanol blending since the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2014-15 has generated foreign exchange savings of more than ₹1.97 lakh crore, substituted approximately 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by around 952 lakh metric tonnes. The programme has also resulted in transfers exceeding ₹1.66 lakh crore to farmers, according to the ministry's figures. During ESY 2025-26, which ended on October 31, 2026, the public sector OMCs procured 1,089 crore litres of ethanol and blended 1,134 crore litres against petrol sales of approximately 5,673 crore litres as part of the national 20% blending target. The companies also rejected the suggestion that they had a commercial incentive to blend ethanol beyond the prescribed level, arguing that additional procurement would increase their costs without providing a corresponding commercial advantage.
Seeking to resolve the dispute, the three oil marketing companies have requested the Karnataka government to provide complete sampling records, outlet-wise laboratory reports and details of the testing methods used in the October exercise. They have also sought access to the retained counterpart samples so that independent tests can be conducted at an authorised laboratory using the prescribed reference method in the presence of representatives from both sides. The companies said they were willing to cooperate with the state government and other competent authorities in a joint sampling and testing exercise in accordance with the relevant regulations and the MDG 2024. They added that any deviation established through the prescribed procedure would be addressed under the applicable guidelines, while reiterating their commitment to fuel quality, regulatory compliance and consumer protection.
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