Karnataka Ethanol Test: 31.2% in Petrol Sample, Oil Firms Reject It

Karnataka’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad said at a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday, 6 November, that petrol sold in the state contained up to 31.2 per cent ethanol, against the 20 per cent allowed for E20 fuel. The state collected 63 samples from seven districts and sent them to the Shriram Research Institute in Bengaluru, which measured ethanol by gas chromatography. In a joint statement the same day, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum rejected the claim, saying the sampling did not follow the prescribed procedure.

What Karnataka Found and Wants

Arshad cited 31.2 per cent in an IOCL sample and 30.5 per cent in an HPCL sample. Readings listed for other samples ranged from 25.5 to 27 per cent for Shell and BPCL outlets, while a few were below 20 per cent. The samples came from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.

The minister estimated that a 10 per cent loss in mileage would cost motorists about Rs 62,000 crore a year, with another Rs 39,000 crore or so on repairs. These are the state’s own estimates, and no method was published. Karnataka wants the Centre to disclose actual ethanol levels, display the blend percentage on every pump, act against suppliers over the limit, and set up an E20 compensation fund for damaged vehicles. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar backed the demands on X.

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Why the Oil Companies Say the Test Fails

The three companies said no OMC representative was present when the samples were drawn in October. Under the 2005 Motor Spirit order, six one-litre samples are to be split between the dealer, the company or department, and an authorised lab. The companies said they have not been given retained samples, outlet-wise details or the lab reports, and that the lab used was not a notified one. They offered joint sampling.

They also said their E20 petrol, including in Karnataka, meets the IS 17021 standard. A quality exercise with the Centre for High Technology, which sits under the Petroleum Ministry, tested 893 samples across 27 states and Union Territories and found all within 19 to 21 per cent ethanol, they said. The 56 Karnataka samples in that exercise averaged 19.30 per cent.

Earlier IPB reports cover the amended motor vehicle rules for flex-fuel vehicles and the oil firms’ 2026-27 ethanol tender. More coverage sits under the ethanol blending tag.

No Retest Date Yet

Neither side has announced a joint retest. The Union Petroleum and Road Transport ministers, whom Karnataka asked for a public clarification, had not responded in the reports available on Saturday. The companies’ demand for the full sampling records and retained samples is the next step to watch.

Source: Based on reporting by ThePrint, Onmanorama and News Karnataka.

Image: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (file photo).