Ethanol blend row: Minister stands firm on claim, demands independent fuel testing

Rizwan Arshad | Photo Credit: File photo

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rizwan Arshad on Monday said that he stands by the test reports on ethanol blending in petrol that were released by him on November 6.

Addressing the media on Monday, Mr. Arshad said, “We stand by our test reports as the tests were done as per the prescribed procedure in laboratories recognised by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), which is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI).”

Failed to answer

He added, “As an elected government, I was expecting an official response from the Union government, whereas they have made the oil companies respond to us. I have examined their statements on our E20 findings. The OMCs’ release is more about technicalities, but they have failed to answer how much ethanol is in the petrol at our pumps.”

The Minister had on November 6 released the test reports of 63 petrol samples collected from petrol bunks across Karnataka. Of the 63 samples, those from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) showed ethanol-blending levels of more than 20%, at 31.2%, 30.5% and 24.2%, respectively.

He slammed the oil companies for stating that the samples were not tested as per the prescribed procedure and that the laboratories used for testing were not those specified under the Order.

“The initial 63 samples were first given to the OMCs’ own laboratories at IOCL, BPCL and HPCL for testing. Not one of their test reports stated the ethanol percentage. IS 17021:2018, the standard the OMCs themselves cite, clearly lays down the procedures for testing ethanol content. Yet not a single OMC report gave that figure. It was the OMC laboratories’ failure to provide the required result that raised suspicion. On no grounds can the State’s tests be discredited for this. To protect consumers, the samples were then sent to NABL-accredited and ISO-certified laboratories,” he said.

Automobile manufacturers’ concern

Highlighting concerns raised by vehicle manufacturers, he said, “On July 28, 2026, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) wrote to the Union Petroleum Ministry flagging chloride and sulphur in E20 fuel and the damage it was causing to vehicle parts. Within a week, amid pressure from the Centre, the letter was withdrawn. ACKO Insurance told a customer that engine damage from ‘incorrect fuel usage’ would not be covered under insurance. Hyundai, Toyota and other automobile manufacturers wrote in their manuals that using fuel other than E10 would void the warranty.”

The Minister also noted that the report on the same subject by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) remains hidden from the public. He added that the Attorney General had told the Supreme Court that E20 was still an experiment, but later issued a clarification.

He said the Karnataka government cannot be silenced and will not step back like industry bodies, companies and other individuals who, he claimed, had been silenced or may step back due to pressure.

Mr. Arshad also expressed his disapproval of the Union government’s call for a joint inspection of E20 blending in petrol. He said, “A few months ago, when I wrote to the Union government seeking inspection and testing, they did not respond. Now, when the test reports are out, they are asking for a joint inspection. What is the point of conducting an inspection after setting the system right?”

Quality monitoring

Responding to the OMCs’ statement that the problem exists only in samples collected from particular petrol pumps and not elsewhere, the Minister said, “The OMCs’ own statement says ethanol blending is ‘a controlled and automated process’ carried out at their refineries and depots. If so, the blend in every litre of petrol is decided at the OMCs’ six terminals serving Karnataka, not at the pump. A dealer only sells what the tanker delivers and has no role in the blend. The excess ethanol found is a failure at the source, and the responsibility lies with the OMCs alone.”

He maintained that by conducting this exercise and exposing these gaps in the OMCs’ systems, the Karnataka government has created a sense of deterrence across the country.

Published - November 09, 2026 08:17 pm IST