State oil firms dispute Karnataka's E20 fuel quality findings

State-owned oil marketing companies have disputed findings from a Karnataka government investigation into E20 fuel quality, asserting that their own laboratory tests paint a different picture. The OMCs conducted separate analysis of 56 fuel samples collected from petrol pumps across Karnataka, recording an average ethanol content of 19.3 percent in the vehicular fuel.

The companies have formally sought additional details regarding the procedures and testing methodologies employed by the state authorities in reaching their conclusions. This request for clarification underscores disagreements over how ethanol-blended fuel samples should be assessed and what constitutes acceptable standards for E20 distribution at retail outlets.

E20 fuel, which contains up to 20 percent ethanol blended with petrol, has been rolled out across India as part of the government's renewable energy and emissions reduction strategy. The quality and consistency of such fuel at the pump remains a critical concern for both regulators and fuel suppliers, particularly as adoption grows among consumers.