'Not supported by tests': Centre rejects over 20% ethanol blending in Karnataka

E20 petrol supplied by the three companies across the country, including Karnataka, conforms to IS 17021NEW DELHI: The Centre on Saturday rejected claims of excessive ethanol blending in petrol at certain retail outlets in Karnataka, saying all 56 samples tested in the state under a nationwide quality monitoring exercise complied with prescribed E20 specifications.The ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) said the three public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) — had clarified that reports of 26-31 per cent ethanol blending were not supported by tests conducted under prescribed statutory and technical procedures.According to the ministry, E20 petrol supplied by the three companies across the country, including Karnataka, conforms to IS 17021, the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for ethanol-blended motor gasoline.The ministry said 893 samples collected across 27 states and Union territories were found compliant with the prescribed quality standards. All 56 samples tested in Karnataka also met the specifications, with ethanol content ranging from 19 per cent to 20 per cent.The OMCs, however, raised concerns over the sampling procedure and testing methodology adopted during an October 2026 exercise in Karnataka. They sought joint sampling and independent testing under prescribed standards to verify the reported ethanol levels."The Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, read with the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) 2024, prescribes a defined procedure for sampling, retention, testing and communication of results," the ministry said.Under the prescribed procedure, six one-litre samples are to be drawn. Two are handed over to the dealer, two retained by the oil company or department, and the remaining two sent to a designated laboratory for testing.The government also said samples collected during a September 2026 exercise were routed through the state level coordinator to designated OMC laboratories and tested for the required quality parameters.The Centre for High Technology (CHT), under the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, has been continuously monitoring ethanol blending and fuel quality at OMC retail outlets, the ministry added.