Oil companies reject Karnataka's '31 per cent' ethanol in petrol claim

BENGALURU: Public sector oil marketing companies rejected Karnataka's claim that petrol sold at certain retail outlets in the state contained up to 31 per cent ethanol. The oil companies stated that these findings were not based on tests conducted in accordance with established procedures. The Karnataka government alleged that major oil marketing companies operating in the state were supplying petrol containing ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed limit of 20 per cent.

Karnataka demanded action against these companies, citing that government-conducted tests revealed ethanol concentrations of up to 31.2 per cent. Minister Rizwan Arshad stated that the excessive ethanol levels were detected through tests performed on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, and Mangaluru.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited jointly issued a statement refuting the allegations made by the Government of Karnataka. The oil marketing companies clarified that the claims reported—which stemmed from inspections conducted without following due legal and technical procedures—are entirely unsubstantiated. The companies further stated that the E20 petrol they supply across the country, including in Karnataka—a motor gasoline blended with ethanol—fully complies with 'IS 17021', the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification for such fuel.