Karnataka stands by ethanol test results amid OMC dispute

Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad said the state government stands by its findings of excessive ethanol blending in petrol sold by oil marketing companies. He stated that the methodology used, including gas chromatography, follows the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Order of 2005.

The minister said none of the 63 petrol samples sent to oil marketing companies for testing provided information on ethanol content. The state then approached independent laboratories, which found ethanol levels of up to 31.2 percent in some samples.

“Every sample collected from September 15 onwards has been signed by the oil marketers, dealers and the concerned officers.”

Arshad said every sample collected from September 15 onwards was signed by oil marketers, dealers and concerned officers. Under the prescribed procedure, six one-litre samples must be drawn, with two given to the dealer, two retained by the oil company or department, and two sent to a designated laboratory.

Three state-run oil marketing companies—Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited—rejected the findings. In a joint statement issued on Friday, they said the results were not supported by testing conducted through prescribed procedures.

The minister said the findings cannot be dismissed because the tests were conducted by laboratories accredited under India's national quality assurance system. He also warned that the findings could raise vehicle compatibility concerns.

Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's remarks on Saturday added to suspicions that petrol with higher ethanol content was being supplied. He said that over the past three to four months there were plans in the Central government for 30 percent mixing instead of 20 percent.

Kerala has begun collecting fuel samples as Karnataka urges other states to conduct independent tests.