State-owned oil marketing companies—Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)—on Thursday rejected recent claims of excessive chloride content and moisture contamination in ethanol-blended E20 petrol, saying an intensive nationwide testing exercise found no evidence to validate allegations of fuel contamination.
The three oil marketing companies said scientifically designed random tests conducted across the entire E20 fuel supply chain confirmed that fuel quality remains consistently within prescribed specifications and there is “no cause for alarm.”
The clarification comes amid recent reports raising concerns over possible contamination in Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit (EBMS), commonly sold as E20 petrol. Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL said the Government of India has prescribed stringent chloride specifications for ethanol used in petrol blending and instituted a high-frequency monitoring mechanism across refineries, distilleries, depots, terminals and retail outlets to ensure compliance throughout the supply chain.
Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL said they have further strengthened surveillance by conducting water-ingress and density tests eight to twelve times daily at every retail outlet. The three oil marketing companies have also deployed mobile fuel quality testing laboratories across locations, while test results are being independently validated through accredited fuel laboratories to ensure the highest standards of quality assurance.
REFINERY SAMPLES RECORD CHLORIDE BELOW 1 PPM
Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL said more than 100 randomly selected petrol samples collected from refineries across the country recorded chloride levels at or below 1 ppm. The companies said the results reaffirm the effectiveness of quality control systems embedded in India’s refining and dispatch process and demonstrate that petrol leaving refineries consistently meets prescribed quality standards.
ETHANOL FROM 80 DISTILLERIES ALSO WITHIN LIMITS
Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL said a dedicated task force comprising officials from the three oil marketing companies and the Centre for High Technology (CHT) examined ethanol samples from 80 distilleries across the country over the past ten days. All the samples recorded chloride content below 3 ppm, significantly lower than the prescribed specification, reflecting robust quality control mechanisms at the ethanol production stage.
DEPOT AND TERMINAL TESTING REMAINS COMPLIANT
Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL said testing of ethanol and E20 petrol at depots and tank truck terminals also found chloride content below 3 ppm. More than 80 samples collected from OMC terminals across the country met prescribed chloride limits, with regular monitoring ensuring fuel quality remains intact throughout storage and distribution.
RETAIL OUTLET TESTS CONTRADICT CONTAMINATION ALLEGATIONS
Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL said more than 1,000 samples have been collected under an intensified monitoring programme at retail outlets. So far, 160 test reports analysed over the past few days have found chloride levels in the range of 0-3 ppm, contradicting claims that E20 petrol contained chloride concentrations running into several hundred ppm.
The three oil marketing companies said the surveillance programme detected only four isolated instances of elevated chloride levels. Supplies at those locations were immediately suspended, followed by detailed root-cause analysis and implementation of corrective measures before operations were restored.
NO EVIDENCE OF WATER INGRESS
Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL also addressed concerns over moisture contamination, saying about 90,000 retail outlets have commenced mandatory inspection and monitoring of underground storage tanks. The underground tanks are being inspected eight to twelve times every day, and the inspections have not revealed any evidence of water ingress so far.
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