New Delhi: Amid recent media reports raising concerns over moisture and chloride contamination in ethanol-blended petrol (E20), Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have undertaken additional intensive testing across the entire fuel supply chain and said the findings do not validate claims of widespread contamination or chloride levels as high as 500 ppm.
According to the OMCs, extensive testing of petrol, ethanol and E20 samples at refineries, distilleries, terminals, depots and retail outlets has found fuel quality to be consistently within the prescribed specifications.
The companies said the intensified testing was undertaken to address concerns regarding fuel quality and to independently verify whether reports of moisture ingress and unusually high chloride concentrations had any basis across the wider supply chain.
OMCs Step Up E20 Fuel Quality Surveillance
The OMCs said fuel quality is being treated as a matter of the highest priority and that any deviation capable of affecting vehicle performance or consumer confidence is being investigated through scientific testing and corrective action.
The Government of India has prescribed stringent specifications for chloride content in ethanol used for petrol blending. A high-frequency monitoring mechanism has also been established to check compliance at multiple stages of the supply chain.
Chloride monitoring is being carried out at refineries, ethanol distilleries, depots and terminals, as well as retail outlets across the country.
According to the OMCs, the expanded surveillance has reaffirmed that the prescribed quality standards are being maintained as E20 moves from production and blending facilities through the distribution network to consumers.
The companies have also strengthened their existing quality assurance protocols by increasing the frequency of water-ingress and density checks at retail outlets.
Read Also: E20 Controversy: Can India Balance Energy Security with Consumer Trust?
Refinery Petrol Samples Show Chloride Below 1 ppm
One of the key components of the nationwide testing programme involved additional testing of petrol samples originating from refineries.
More than 100 randomly selected petrol samples were tested across various refineries as part of the intensified exercise. According to the OMCs, chloride content in all these samples was reported at 1 ppm or below.
The findings, they said, demonstrate the effectiveness of quality checks incorporated into the refining and dispatch processes.
The results are significant in the context of claims of extremely high chloride concentrations in petrol, with the OMCs stating that the refinery-level testing did not support such claims.
Ethanol Samples From 80 Distilleries Tested
The testing exercise also covered ethanol, which is the principal blending component used to produce E20 petrol.
A dedicated task force comprising members from the OMCs and the Centre for High Technology (CHT) tested ethanol samples from 80 distilleries across the country over the last 10 days.
According to the OMCs, all the samples tested recorded chloride levels of less than 3 ppm.
The companies said the results indicate that chloride levels in ethanol supplied by distilleries remain significantly below the prescribed specification, reflecting quality-control mechanisms operating at the production stage.
More Than 80 Samples Tested at Depots and Terminals
The intensified surveillance was also extended to the intermediate stages through which ethanol and E20 petrol are stored and transported.
More than 80 samples were collected from various OMC terminals and depots across the country. According to the test results shared by the OMCs, chloride levels in these samples remained below 3 ppm.
The companies said regular testing at depots and terminals is intended to ensure that fuel quality is maintained during storage and movement through the distribution network.
This monitoring is particularly important because the fuel passes through multiple stages between production, blending, storage and retail distribution before reaching consumers.
160+ Retail Outlet Samples Tested
Retail outlets have also been subjected to intensified surveillance following the reports concerning chloride and moisture in E20 petrol.
More than 160 samples from retail outlets have been analysed for chloride content over the last few days. The OMCs said the chloride levels recorded in these samples were in the range of 0–3 ppm.
The companies said these findings do not support claims of chloride concentrations running into several hundred parts per million.
However, the intensified surveillance did identify two isolated instances in which elevated chloride levels were detected.
According to the OMCs, both locations were immediately suspended, followed by detailed root-cause analysis. Appropriate corrective measures were subsequently implemented before supplies were restored.
The companies said the action demonstrates that the strengthened monitoring system is designed not only to detect deviations but also to ensure that supplies are stopped and corrective action taken wherever a quality issue is identified.
90,000 Retail Outlets Under Water-Ingress Monitoring
Concerns about moisture or water entering underground fuel storage tanks have also prompted additional inspections at retail outlets.
According to the OMCs, approximately 90,000 retail outlets have commenced mandatory inspection and monitoring of underground storage tanks.
The tanks are being checked 8–12 times every day as part of the stepped-up surveillance programme.
The OMCs said these inspections have not revealed any water ingress so far.
In addition to physical inspections, density testing is also being conducted at retail outlets multiple times each day to identify possible deviations and strengthen fuel-quality monitoring.
Mobile Testing Laboratories Deployed
The OMCs have also deployed mobile fuel-quality testing laboratories at various locations to supplement the existing laboratory network.
The companies said samples and test results are being independently validated through fuel laboratories as part of the strengthened quality-assurance mechanism.
The multipronged approach combines testing at production facilities, supply-chain checkpoints and retail outlets with frequent field inspections.
According to the OMCs, this provides multiple layers of verification rather than relying on testing at a single point in the fuel distribution chain.
CHT to Update Test Results
A tabulated summary of the testing carried out so far has been made available on the official website of the Centre for High Technology (CHT).
The OMCs said the information will be updated as additional test results become available.
The testing programme is therefore expected to remain an ongoing exercise, with surveillance continuing across different stages of the E20 supply chain.
OMCs Reassure Consumers Over E20 Petrol
The OMCs have sought to reassure consumers that fuel quality remains their highest priority and that quality surveillance is being undertaken continuously across the supply chain.
They said that wherever any deviation from prescribed standards is detected, supplies are stopped or suspended as necessary, followed by investigation and corrective action.
The companies maintained that the nationwide testing undertaken in response to recent reports has not validated claims of widespread fuel contamination, chloride levels of 500 ppm or water ingress at retail outlets.
The findings instead indicate that the samples tested across refineries, distilleries, terminals, depots and retail outlets have generally remained within the prescribed quality parameters.
The OMCs have consequently urged consumers to continue using E20 petrol with confidence, stating that fuel supplied through their network conforms to the prescribed specifications and is backed by quality-assurance and monitoring systems intended to safeguard consumers at every stage.
Key Findings From Intensified E20 Testing
- Refineries: More than 100 petrol samples tested; chloride levels were at or below 1 ppm in all samples.
- Distilleries: Ethanol samples from 80 distilleries were tested; all recorded chloride levels below 3 ppm.
- Depots & Terminals: More than 80 samples tested nationwide, with chloride levels below 3 ppm.
- Retail Outlets: Over 160 samples analysed; chloride levels were found in the 0–3 ppm range.
- Water-Ingress Checks: Around 90,000 retail outlets began mandatory underground tank inspections, conducted 8–12 times daily, with no water ingress reported so far.
- Isolated Deviations: Two retail outlets showed elevated chloride levels; both were immediately suspended for root-cause analysis and corrective action.
- Mobile Testing: Mobile fuel-quality laboratories have been deployed, with results being independently validated through fuel laboratories.
- Overall Finding: The intensified testing has not validated claims of 500 ppm chloride or widespread moisture contamination in E20 petrol.
What the OMCs’ Testing Shows
The latest exercise represents a significant expansion of the existing fuel-quality surveillance system, with testing conducted at multiple points rather than relying solely on samples collected from retail outlets.
The OMCs said the results available so far do not indicate a widespread chloride or moisture contamination problem in E20 petrol. At the same time, the detection of two isolated cases of elevated chloride levels and the subsequent suspension of those outlets shows that the intensified monitoring mechanism is being used to identify and address deviations.
The companies said quality surveillance will continue across the supply chain and that further test results will be incorporated into the CHT’s publicly available summary.
For consumers, the OMCs’ message is that E20 petrol supplied through the monitored OMC network continues to meet prescribed quality specifications, while additional testing and surveillance have been put in place to detect and address any deviation promptly.
