New Delhi: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) on Friday sought to dispel concerns over the ethanol content of E20 petrol, saying a photograph circulating on social media from a fuel-quality demonstration in Karnataka was taken before the testing process was complete and did not represent the final result.
In a statement, the state-owned oil marketing company said the image showed an intermediate stage of an ethanol separation test, in which a mixture of petrol and water initially turns hazy or milky before the two layers separate completely.
The photograph was inadvertently shared before the separation process was complete. The officer concerned promptly removed the post to prevent any misinterpretation, BPCL said, adding that the sample tested was found to be within the prescribed specifications.
The clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny of E20 petrol, which contains 20 per cent ethanol blended with petrol, over concerns about fuel quality and the accuracy of ethanol blending.
The Karnataka government has alleged that oil marketing companies are selling petrol with ethanol content significantly above the prescribed 20 per cent limit. Tests conducted on samples collected from seven districts reportedly recorded ethanol levels as high as 31.2 per cent.
The concerns have gained traction on social media, including after a BPCL demonstration in Karnataka appeared to show an inconclusive ethanol separation test.
The Union government and the three state-run oil marketing companies have rejected the allegations, saying tests on 893 samples collected across 27 states and Union Territories, including 56 from Karnataka, found ethanol content within the prescribed range of 19-21 per cent. They have questioned the state's sampling and testing methodology and called for joint testing.
Explaining the testing procedure, BPCL said its officers had been conducting demonstrations at fuel stations across Karnataka as part of a consumer awareness initiative.
The test involves mixing 100 ml of E20 ethanol-blended motor spirit with 30 ml of water to separate ethanol from petrol. The mixture initially appears cloudy, which is a normal stage of the process, and needs time for the two layers to separate completely.
BPCL said the quality of E20 petrol sold through its retail outlets is monitored through established quality-assurance mechanisms and complies with the applicable Bureau of Indian Standards specification, IS 17021.
The company also cited a nationwide quality-monitoring exercise conducted by oil marketing companies in coordination with the Centre for High Technology (CHT). The exercise covered 893 E20 samples across 27 states and Union Territories, all of which were found to be within the prescribed ethanol content range of 19-21 per cent, it said.
Of these, 280 samples were tested by BPCL, which said the results reaffirmed compliance with quality standards.
India is expanding the use of ethanol-blended petrol as part of its efforts to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, lower emissions and support domestic ethanol producers. However, E20 blending has drawn consumer attention over concerns relating to fuel quality, vehicle compatibility and mileage.
BPCL urged consumers and other stakeholders to rely on tests conducted using prescribed procedures and verified quality-assessment mechanisms, reiterating its commitment to fuel quality and consumer confidence.