Karnataka has escalated its dispute with the Centre and oil marketing companies over alleged excess ethanol in petrol, with Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad calling for joint testing by an independent agency in the presence of central government officials.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Arshad said the state government stood by its testing results, which it said had detected ethanol levels above the prescribed limit in petrol sold as E20 fuel. He challenged Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation to conduct fresh tests through a third-party institution so that consumers could know the findings.
“We do not accept the reports of the oil marketing companies regarding the sale of petrol blended with excessive quantities of ethanol. Our report is 100 per cent true,” Arshad said, according to Prajavani. He alleged that petrol sold as E20 in parts of Karnataka contained E30 or higher levels of ethanol, though the oil companies have disputed the state’s sampling and testing process.
The minister said the state had collected 63 petrol samples under Section 7 of the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Order, 2005. He said government officials collected each sample, recorded the fuel’s density on site and completed the prescribed forms in the presence of the dealer or the dealer’s representative. The labels on the samples were allegedly signed jointly by the officials and the representatives.
According to Arshad, the samples were initially sent to laboratories operated by the three oil companies. He claimed that the companies’ reports did not specify the quantity of ethanol detected, despite the testing method for ethanol content being set out in the IS 17021:2018 standard cited by the companies. The state subsequently sent samples to ISO-certified laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, or NABL, under the Union commerce and industry ministry, he said.
Arshad rejected the oil companies’ contention that the samples had not been collected lawfully. He also criticised the use of low-cost hydrometers for fuel testing, alleging that oil companies were relying on devices purchased online while questioning results from accredited laboratories. The minister said the state’s findings indicated a possible failure at the point where fuel blending takes place and maintained that oil marketing companies should be held responsible if fuel exceeds the prescribed ethanol level.
The dispute has implications for motorists because fuel quality affects vehicle operation, maintenance and compliance with approved fuel specifications. The state government said protecting consumer interests and ensuring fair service were its priorities. It plans to convene a meeting with the oil companies and take steps to ensure that fuel sold in Karnataka meets prescribed quality requirements.
The issue has also prompted scrutiny in Kerala. Minister Anoop Jacob said petrol samples had been collected from fuel stations in several parts of four districts and would be sent to a government laboratory. The move followed concerns raised after Karnataka’s allegations and complaints from members of the public about possible vehicle damage. Kerala expects to receive the test results within 10 days, according to the report.
Karnataka’s government has said it is willing to participate in joint testing in the presence of central officials. The next formal step is a meeting with the oil marketing companies to discuss the sampling process, test results and measures to ensure compliance with fuel-quality standards.
