Karnataka Alleges Oil Companies Sold Petrol With Up to 31.2 Pc Ethanol, Above 20 Pc Limit

The Karnataka government on Friday alleged that major oil marketing companies were supplying petrol with ethanol content exceeding the prescribed 20 per cent limit, with tests recording levels as high as 31.2 per cent, and sought action against the companies. 

In a press release, Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad said the allegations were based on tests conducted on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.

According to the test results issued by the National Accreditation



Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories-accredited and ISO-certified Shriram Research Institute, Bengaluru, samples from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) recorded ethanol content of 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively.

The results showed ethanol content of 27 per cent in HPCL (MS) petrol, 26.5 per cent in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's (BPCL) Speed petrol, 26.1 per cent in Nayara petrol, 25.5 per cent in Shell petrol, 24.2 per cent and 22.6 per cent in two BPCL samples, 22.4 per cent in another HPCL sample and 20.8 per cent in another IOCL sample.