“Are you experimenting on consumers?”: Karnataka Minister questions oil companies over E20 fuel

Karnataka Minister Rizwan Arshad has questioned oil marketing companies over the safety and compatibility of ethanol-blended petrol, asking whether consumers are being subjected to an experiment without adequate clarity on the suitability of their vehicles for higher ethanol blends.

Arshad said the Karnataka government had rejected the joint statement issued by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), which challenged the State's findings on E20 fuel testing. He maintained that the government stood by its test results and the methodology adopted to assess the ethanol content in petrol.

Raising concerns over the impact of higher ethanol blending on vehicles, the Minister questioned whether ordinary cars and two-wheelers currently on Indian roads were compatible with E20 and E30 fuels. He also referred to BMW's stated position on E30 compatibility, arguing that the issue required greater scrutiny before further increasing ethanol content in petrol.

“Are you experimenting on consumers?” Arshad asked, questioning whether vehicle owners had been adequately informed about the compatibility of their vehicles with higher ethanol blends.

He emphasised that the government's responsibility was to protect public interest and ensure that consumers were not exposed to potential risks without sufficient information. “We are a government of people. We will keep asking questions,” he said.

The disagreement has brought renewed attention to the debate over India's ethanol-blending programme, particularly concerns surrounding vehicle compatibility, fuel quality and the possible implications for older vehicles.

While oil companies have challenged Karnataka's testing conclusions, the State government has maintained its position, indicating that it intends to continue seeking clarity on the issue.