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Automobile
Karnataka lab finds ethanol in E20 petrol as high as 31%, minister seeks penalties
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 07:53 PM
👁 2
Laboratory tests in Karnataka revealed that the ethanol content in E20 petrol reached 31%, far above the stipulated 20% blend. The state food and consumer affairs minister has called for punitive action against oil marketing companies and a compensation fund for affected motorists.
A laboratory assessment conducted in Karnataka has shown that the ethanol proportion in the E20 petrol supplied across the state can be as high as 31 percent, considerably exceeding the mandated 20 percent blend. The findings raise concerns about fuel quality and compliance with the government's ethanol blending policy.
In response, Karnataka's Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has demanded that oil marketing companies (OMCs) be penalised for the deviation. The minister also urged the creation of an "E20 spoilage fund" to reimburse consumers who may have suffered losses due to the higher ethanol content.
The state government has not yet disclosed the specific steps it will take to enforce the penalties or establish the compensation mechanism, but the minister's statement signals a swift regulatory response aimed at safeguarding consumer interests and ensuring adherence to fuel standards.
Stakeholders in the petroleum sector are expected to await further directives from the department, while motorists are advised to remain vigilant about fuel quality.
The episode underscores the challenges of implementing the ethanol blending program nationwide, highlighting the need for robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
In response, Karnataka's Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has demanded that oil marketing companies (OMCs) be penalised for the deviation. The minister also urged the creation of an "E20 spoilage fund" to reimburse consumers who may have suffered losses due to the higher ethanol content.
The state government has not yet disclosed the specific steps it will take to enforce the penalties or establish the compensation mechanism, but the minister's statement signals a swift regulatory response aimed at safeguarding consumer interests and ensuring adherence to fuel standards.
Stakeholders in the petroleum sector are expected to await further directives from the department, while motorists are advised to remain vigilant about fuel quality.
The episode underscores the challenges of implementing the ethanol blending program nationwide, highlighting the need for robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms.