Government-mandated testing of E20 petrol samples underway at an oil marketing company facility as part of nationwide fuel quality checks.
Government Rejects Claims Of Impurities In E20 Petrol After Nationwide Testing
Government rejects claims of impurities in E20 petrol, with oil marketing companies (OMCs) confirming that nationwide testing across the entire E20 petrol supply chain found fuel quality well within prescribed limits.
The testing was carried out following recent media reports alleging the presence of moisture and chloride in E20 petrol, including claims of chloride levels as high as 500 ppm.
Government Says Scientific Testing Found No Cause For Concern
Government officials said the results of the nationwide, scientifically designed random testing confirm that there is no cause for concern regarding fuel contamination, contrary to some of the claims made in media reports.
Government E20 petrol quality testing chloride contamination India oil companies
OMCs said fuel quality remains their highest priority, and that any issue potentially affecting vehicle performance or consumer confidence is addressed immediately through scientific investigation and corrective action.
Officials said the Government of India has set strict chloride standards for ethanol used in petrol blending and has established a high-frequency monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance across the entire supply chain.
Chloride levels are being monitored at multiple points in the supply chain, including refineries, distilleries, depots, terminals and retail outlets, to ensure quality is consistently maintained.
Government Details Enhanced Testing Measures Across Supply Chain
In addition to existing quality assurance protocols, officials said OMCs have further strengthened monitoring by conducting water ingress and density tests 8 to 12 times a day at each retail outlet. Mobile fuel quality testing laboratories have also been deployed at various locations, with test results independently verified by fuel laboratories to ensure the highest quality assurance standards.
Officials said these multi-layered and advanced testing protocols implemented across the supply chain have certified that the highest fuel quality standards are being maintained.
Refinery-Level Testing Shows Chloride Levels Within 1 PPM
At the refinery stage, officials said testing of more than 100 randomly selected petrol samples across various refineries confirmed that chloride content remained consistently low, with all samples showing levels at or below 1 ppm. Officials described this as reflecting the continued effectiveness of the quality checks embedded in India’s robust refining and distribution process.
Distillery-Level Ethanol Testing Confirms Chloride Within Limits
Officials said ethanol supplied by distilleries, the primary blending component, also recorded chloride levels well below the prescribed specification, reflecting strong quality control mechanisms at the production stage. A dedicated task force comprising members of OMCs and the Central High-power Task Force (CHT) tested ethanol samples from 80 distilleries across the country over the past 10 days, with all samples found to have chloride content below 3 ppm.
Testing At Depots And Retail Outlets Finds Chloride Within Prescribed Range
At depots and tank trucks, officials said samples of ethanol and E20 petrol tested at depots and terminals showed chloride content within prescribed limits, with regular monitoring at this stage ensuring quality is maintained as fuel moves through the storage and distribution network. More than 80 samples collected from various OMC terminals nationwide showed chloride levels below 3 ppm.
At retail outlets, officials said an intensive monitoring programme covering more than 1,000 samples has so far analysed 160 test reports for chloride content over recent days, with levels found in the range of 0-3 ppm, compared to claims of several hundred ppm.
Officials said the monitoring system identified only four cases where elevated chloride levels were found, and these were immediately suspended, with detailed root-cause analysis and appropriate corrective measures implemented before supply was restored.
Water Ingress Testing Finds No Cases Of Contamination
Officials said mandatory inspection and monitoring of underground storage tanks has begun at nearly 90,000 retail outlets across the country. Underground tanks at retail outlets are being inspected 8 to 12 times a day, and no cases of water ingress have been found so far.
Officials said a tabulated summary of the test results is available on the CHT’s official website, www.cht.gov.in, and will be updated as further test results become available.
Government Urges Consumers To Continue Using E20 Petrol With Confidence
Oil marketing companies reiterated that fuel quality remains their highest priority, with continuous monitoring conducted across the supply chain and immediate, decisive corrective action taken wherever any deficiency is identified.
Based on the testing results, officials said consumers should continue using E20 petrol with confidence, as fuel supplied through the OMC network conforms to prescribed quality standards and is backed by robust quality assurance and monitoring systems designed to protect consumer interests at every stage of the supply chain.
Kishan Singh Rana is a Bhopal-based journalist and Senior Correspondent covering Madhya Pradesh politics, governance, infrastructure and public policy. With over five years of experience in digital and print media, he reports on civic issues, administration and development stories across the state.
