A New Controversy Erupts Over Ethanol in Petrol as Oil Companies Step In

State owned oil marketing companies Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) have rejected the Karnataka government's claim that four out of five petrol samples tested in the state contained 26–31% ethanol. According to the companies, tests conducted on 56 samples collected in Karnataka found ethanol levels ranging between 19% and 20%, with an average of 19.30%. They also stated that 893 samples tested across 27 states and Union Territories met the prescribed standards, with ethanol levels ranging from 19% to 21%.

The oil companies have raised concerns over the sample collection and testing procedures followed by the Karnataka government. They alleged that no representative from the oil marketing companies was present during the sample collection in October and that the necessary testing documents and a second set of samples were not provided. The companies also questioned the testing methodology, claiming that the prescribed protocol under IS 17021 was not followed. The dispute has brought attention to the procedures used to assess ethanol content in petrol.