New Delhi, 07 November (H.S.): Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have rejected the Karnataka government's claim that petrol sold at certain retail outlets in the state contained up to 31 per cent ethanol, maintaining that the reported findings were not based on tests conducted in accordance with prescribed procedures.

In a joint statement, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) disputed the state government's allegations and raised concerns over the sampling process and testing methodology used to determine the ethanol content in petrol.

The companies said they had taken note of a statement issued by Karnataka's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, which claimed that petrol sold at certain retail outlets contained between 26 per cent and 31 per cent ethanol.

The OMCs clarified that the E20 petrol supplied by them across the country, including Karnataka, complied with the Bureau of Indian Standards' IS 17021 specification for ethanol-blended motor gasoline. They added that the quality of the fuel was subjected to regular and stringent testing.

The companies' clarification came after the Karnataka government's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology alleged that samples collected from petrol pumps had revealed ethanol concentrations substantially above the prescribed 20 per cent blending limit. The state government had also expressed concerns that excessive ethanol content could cause financial losses to consumers through reduced vehicle mileage and higher maintenance costs.

In its statement, the Karnataka government had claimed that petrol sold at certain retail outlets contained between 26 per cent and 31 per cent ethanol. It alleged that oil marketing companies were blending ethanol beyond the prescribed 20 per cent limit, with some samples reportedly recording concentrations as high as 31.2 per cent. The state government also sought action against the companies over the alleged violation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar