'No Cause For Alarm': Oil Firms Say E20 Petrol Meets Quality Standards, Junk Contamination Claims

Published 8 August 2026 · india

News india 'No Cause For Alarm': Oil Firms Say E20 Petrol Meets Quality Standards, Junk Contamination Claims 'No Cause For Alarm': Oil Firms Say E20

News india 'No Cause For Alarm': Oil Firms Say E20 Petrol Meets Quality Standards, Junk Contamination Claims 'No Cause For Alarm': Oil Firms Say E20 Petrol Meets Quality Standards, Junk Contamination Claims Published By, Last Updated: August 08, 2026, 11:36 IST The statement follows reports raising concerns over possible contamination in Ethanol Blended Motor Spirits (EBMS), or E20 petrol The statement follows reports raising concerns over possible contamination in Ethanol Blended Motor Spirits (EBMS), or E20 petrol | Image for representation: AFP State-owned oil marketing companies said Thursday that nationwide testing of ethanol-blended E20 petrol found no evidence to support claims of excessive chloride content and moisture contamination, adding that the fuel quality remained within prescribed limits.

The three oil companies –– Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) –– asserted that there was “no cause for alarm". The statement follows reports raising concerns over possible contamination in Ethanol Blended Motor Spirits (EBMS), or E20 petrol. The state-run oil firms said the Centre has underlined stringent chloride specifications for ethanol used in petrol blending. As per the clarification, more ⁠than 80 E20 samples collected from depots and terminals nationwide showed chloride levels below 3 ppm, which is significantly lower than the prescribed standards. Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL said they had enhanced surveillance by conducting water-ingress and density tests on a daily basis at every retail outlet.

The firms have also deployed mobile fuel quality testing laboratories across locations. Tests Junk Contamination Claims Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL said that 160 test reports analysed over the past few days have found that chloride levels in ethanol-blended petrol were in the range of 0-3 ppm. The three oil firms said the surveillance programme found only four isolated instances of elevated chloride levels. Stir Around E20 Petrol The E20 controversy in India centers on the rapid nationwide rollout of petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol. While vehicle owners and motorists have pointed to a declining fuel economy, the Centre has maintained that the policy would reduce India’s heavy reliance on foreign crude imports.

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