Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 7: Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) on Friday said extensive nationwide testing has confirmed that ethanol-blended motor spirit (EBMS), commonly known as E20 petrol, continues to meet prescribed quality standards, dismissing concerns raised over moisture and chloride contamination.
In a statement, the OMCs said an additional intensive testing exercise was conducted across the entire E20 petrol supply chain following recent reports questioning fuel quality. The companies said the tests found no evidence of contamination and confirmed that fuel quality remained within the specified limits.
The OMCs said fuel quality is their top priority and that any concern that could impact vehicle performance or consumer confidence is addressed through scientific investigation and corrective action.
They said the government has prescribed strict chloride limits for ethanol used in petrol blending and has put in place a high-frequency monitoring system covering the entire supply chain.
Chloride levels are checked at multiple stages, including refineries, ethanol-producing distilleries, depots, terminals and retail outlets, to ensure compliance with quality norms.
The companies added that monitoring has been strengthened through water-ingress and density tests conducted eight to 12 times daily at all retail outlets. Mobile fuel quality testing laboratories have also been deployed at various locations, while samples are independently examined by fuel testing laboratories.
The OMCs said the multi-layered testing system has validated India's fuel quality standards and found no reason for concern regarding E20 petrol.
They further stated that more than 100 additional randomly selected petrol samples from refineries across the country were tested for chloride content. All samples recorded chloride levels at or below 1 part per million (ppm), remaining within the prescribed specification.
The companies said the findings reflect the effectiveness of quality control measures implemented across India's refining and fuel distribution network.