Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have intensified testing of E20 petrol across the country following recent media reports raising concerns over moisture and chloride content in ethanol-blended motor spirit (EBMS). The companies said nationwide additional testing across the entire fuel supply chain has found that fuel quality remains within prescribed specifications.
According to the OMCs, more than 100 randomly selected petrol samples tested across various refineries recorded chloride levels at or below 1 ppm. The companies said the results indicate that quality checks at the refining and dispatch stages continue to be effective.
The government has prescribed a chloride specification for ethanol used in petrol blending and has established monitoring mechanisms across multiple stages of the supply chain, including refineries, distilleries, depots and terminals, and retail outlets.
As part of the intensified surveillance, a dedicated task force comprising representatives from OMCs and the Centre for High Technology (CHT) tested ethanol samples from 80 distilleries across the country over the past 10 days. All samples recorded chloride levels below 3 ppm, according to the OMCs.
Testing has also been expanded across OMC depots and terminals. More than 80 ethanol and E20 samples collected from terminals nationwide were found to have chloride content below 3 ppm.
At the retail level, more than 1,000 samples have been collected under the intensified monitoring programme. Of these, 160 test reports have so far been analysed for chloride content, with levels ranging between 0 and 3 ppm, the OMCs said. This, they said, contrasts with claims of chloride levels running into several hundred ppm.
The intensified surveillance did, however, identify four isolated instances of elevated chloride levels at retail outlets. The affected outlets were immediately suspended, followed by root-cause analysis and corrective measures before supplies were restored.
The OMCs have also stepped up monitoring for possible water ingress into underground storage tanks at retail outlets. Around 90,000 retail outlets have commenced mandatory inspection and monitoring, with underground storage tanks being checked 8–12 times a day. The companies said the inspections have not revealed any cases of water ingress so far.
In addition to existing quality assurance protocols, OMCs have deployed mobile fuel quality testing laboratories at various locations. Test results are also being independently validated through fuel laboratories as part of the enhanced quality surveillance programme.
The companies said the additional testing and monitoring across refineries, distilleries, terminals, tank trucks and retail outlets have not indicated any widespread fuel contamination.
OMCs said fuel quality remains a key priority and that any deviation identified through surveillance is being addressed through investigation and corrective action.
The companies have also sought to reassure consumers that E20 petrol supplied through the OMC network conforms to prescribed quality specifications. They said consumers can continue using E20 fuel with confidence, with monitoring mechanisms in place across the supply chain to safeguard fuel quality and consumer interests.
The tabulated results of the additional testing are available on the official website of the Centre for High Technology and will be updated as further test results become available.
