NEW DELHI — Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi mounted a fresh attack against the Central government on Saturday, claiming that public and private oil companies are quietly over-blending ethanol in commercial petrol beyond the mandated 20 percent (E20) threshold.
The allegations stem from state-commissioned testing in Karnataka, where regional authorities reported fuel samples containing ethanol levels above 30 percent, triggering a sharp political row over consumer rights, vehicle safety, and corporate oversight.
Karnataka Testing and Opposition Claims
The controversy centers on chemical testing carried out by Karnataka’s Legal Metrology department across seven districts, including Bengaluru and Mangaluru:
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Laboratory Analysis: Tests conducted by an accredited research facility analyzed 14 commercial samples from major public and private retail outlets—including IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, Shell, and Nayara. According to state officials, 11 samples exceeded statutory limits, with peak ethanol concentrations reaching 31.2 percent at an IOCL pump and 30.5 percent at an HPCL station.
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Consumer Concerns: Highlighting the test findings, Gandhi argued that uncalibrated ethanol levels degrade vehicle engines, cause rapid mileage drop-offs, and inflate repair expenses for citizens whose vehicles were not manufactured for high-blend fuels. He also criticized fuel stations for lacking clear percentage disclosures on retail pumps.
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Challenge for Executive Debate: The opposition leader called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the biofuel policy’s real-world execution and regulatory enforcement, proposing the issue as a key subject for parliamentary discussion.
Oil Refiners Defend Standards and Biofuel Goals
State-run Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) pushed back forcefully against the Karnataka government’s report, standing by the quality of their national supply lines:
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Joint Refiner Statement: Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum issued a joint statement denying any regulatory breaches. The OMCs affirmed that all E20 fuel supplied nationwide strictly complies with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications, keeping ethanol content strictly within the approved 19 to 21 percent window.
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Testing Integrity Questioned: The refiners questioned the validity of the state’s sampling methods, noting that third-party laboratory reports lacked standardized procedural details necessary to verify testing accuracy independently.
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Macroeconomic Scale: Addressing the broader mandate, energy sector data indicates that India’s ethanol blending push—which expanded from 1.5 percent a decade ago to 20 percent—has reduced crude import reliance by 316 lakh metric tonnes, saved nearly ₹1.98 lakh crore in foreign exchange, and funneled significant revenue directly to sugarcane farmers.
