State's E20 fuel claims disputed as oil majors reject ethanol findings

India's state-owned petroleum companies have pushed back against Karnataka's claims regarding ethanol content in E20 fuel, asserting that the state government did not adhere to established testing standards when examining petrol samples.

The oil majors issued a coordinated rebuttal during a joint press conference Friday, categorically denying allegations that E20 petrol distributed in the state contained 31 percent ethanol. According to the companies, Karnataka's testing methodology deviated from prescribed regulatory procedures, undermining the validity of the findings.

E20 fuel, which contains up to 20 percent ethanol blended with petrol, is promoted by the Indian government as part of its efforts to reduce crude oil imports and lower vehicle emissions. The fuel is compatible with flex-fuel vehicles and is increasingly being rolled out across petrol pumps nationwide.

The dispute highlights ongoing concerns about fuel quality control and standardization across India's petroleum distribution network. It remains unclear what prompted Karnataka's investigation into E20 fuel samples or whether the state intends to pursue further testing under agreed protocols.