Consumers should continue to use E20 petrol with confidence: Govt
New Delhi, Aug 8
Consumers should continue to use E20 petrol with confidence, as the fuel supplied through the OMC network conforms to the prescribed quality specifications and is backed by robust quality assurance and monitoring systems designed to safeguard consumer interests at every stage of the supply chain, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on Saturday.
In a statement, the ministry said that amid recent media reports on moisture and chloride in EBMS (E20 Petrol), OMCs carried out a nationwide additional intensive testing covering the entire EBMS supply chain.
"The findings reaffirm that fuel quality remains consistently well within prescribed limits. Contrary to certain assertions being made, based on extensive random testing through scientifically designed tests, the evidence shows that there is no cause for any alarm on account of fuel contamination," according to an official statement.
The statement further said that OMCs would like to reassure all our esteemed customers that we treat fuel quality as a matter of highest priority and any issue that could potentially affect the vehicle performance or consumer confidence is addressed promptly through scientific investigation and corrective action.
OMCs have further strengthened surveillance by conducting water-ingress and density tests 8-12 times daily at every retail outlet.
Mobile fuel quality testing laboratories have also been deployed across locations, while test results are being independently validated through fuel laboratories to ensure the highest standards of quality assurance.
"These multipronged stepped-up testing protocols across the supply chain has validated our highest fuel quality standards," said the statement.
Moreover, over 100 additional randomly selected petrol samples tested across various refineries confirm that chloride content remains consistently low, with all samples reported at or below the 1 ppm.
This reflects the continued effectiveness of quality checks built into India's robust refining and dispatch process, said the statement.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the transparency, I wish they had done this testing BEFORE rolling out E20 nationwide. The confusion could have been avoided. Still, better late than never - at least now we have concrete data showing it's safe.
This is the problem with our media - they create panic without checking facts. My uncle runs a fleet of 20 autos in Delhi, all using E20, and mileage is actually better than regular petrol. Trust the scientific evidence, not sensational headlines. 🙏
As someone who works in the energy sector, I can confirm that India's fuel quality standards are among the most rigorous in the world. The 1 ppm chloride limit is actually stricter than many developed countries. Give credit where it's due.
The mobile testing labs are a great initiative! But I hope the government ensures these tests are truly independent and not just conducted by the same OMCs. Independent audit is key to maintaining public trust.
Using E20 in my new Scross for 3 months now. Smooth performance, no issues at all. The switch to ethanol blends is crucial for our energy security - why should we keep importing oil when we can grow our own fuel? Makes perfect economic sense.
S Suresh O