Oil Companies Reject E20 Contamination Claims After Extensive Nationwide Testing

State-run oil marketing companies said nationwide testing of E20 petrol found no evidence supporting claims of widespread moisture or chloride contamination. Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited said on Friday that samples examined across the fuel supply chain remained largely within prescribed quality limits, amid continuing concerns about E20’s suitability for older vehicles and its effect on mileage.

The companies said the Union government had established specifications for the amount of chloride permitted in ethanol used for blending with petrol. They reported implementing frequent monitoring at distilleries, refineries, depots, terminals and retail outlets. Petrol pumps were also conducting water-ingress and density checks eight to 12 times daily, supported by mobile testing units and independent validation through fuel laboratories.

More than 100 petrol samples collected from refineries recorded chloride concentrations of one part per million or lower, according to the companies. Ethanol obtained from 80 distilleries and tested over the preceding 10 days contained less than three ppm of chloride. More than 80 samples taken from fuel depots and terminals across India also returned chloride readings below three ppm.

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Testing at retail outlets covered more than 160 E20 petrol samples collected during the previous few days. The companies said the samples contained chloride concentrations ranging from zero to three ppm, contradicting claims that levels had reached several hundred ppm. They maintained that the broader exercise showed fuel quality remained consistently within the prescribed standards throughout the distribution system.

However, tests identified two isolated cases involving elevated chloride concentrations. Fuel supplies from the affected sources were immediately suspended while officials began investigating the cause and implementing corrective measures. The companies said supplies would be restored only after the required action had been completed. Their statement did not identify the locations or specify the chloride readings recorded in those two cases.

The companies advised motorists to continue using E20 petrol, saying fuel distributed through their networks complied with quality specifications and was supported by monitoring systems designed to protect consumers. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also defended the ethanol-blending programme at a Confederation of Indian Industry event, alleging that some people were attempting to create controversy around the policy. Concerns about vehicle compatibility and fuel efficiency remain separate from the contamination findings.

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