Fuel quality monitored on regular basis by Oil Marketing Companies: Petroleum Ministry
New Delhi, August 4
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Tuesday stated that fuel quality is being regularly monitored by Oil Marketing Companies and that additional checks have been introduced alongside existing testing protocols to detect and prevent any possible contamination across the fuel supply chain.
Referring to reports in a section of the media citing issues of contamination, the Ministry said strict action will be taken in case adulteration is found at any retail outlet.
The Ministry said in a post on X that as part of the intensified monitoring, water ingress testing is being conducted 8-12 times a day at more than 87,000 retail outlets across the country.
It said that the additional checks have been instituted to strengthen the existing mechanisms for ensuring fuel quality at retail outlets.
MoPNG also said that more than 2,000 fuel samples have been tested for chloride and sulphide contamination. So far, only two cases of chloride contamination have been detected across the country, according to the Ministry.
Sales from both retail outlets where chloride contamination was detected were suspended immediately, the Ministry said, adding that strict action would be taken wherever any instance of fuel contamination or adulteration is found.
The Ministry has also instructed OMCs to take proactive measures to detect any possible contamination across the entire fuel supply chain. This is intended to ensure that monitoring is not restricted to retail outlets and that potential quality issues are identified at different stages of the supply and distribution network.
MoPNG said OMCs already have advanced and elaborate testing protocols in place and that the additional checks are aimed at further strengthening safeguards.
The frequent water-ingress testing is particularly aimed at identifying the presence of water in fuel storage systems, while testing for chloride and sulphide is intended to detect specific forms of contamination.
The Ministry reiterated that strict action will be taken against retail outlets where contamination or adulteration is detected. OMCs have also been directed to remain vigilant and proactively identify possible contamination throughout the fuel supply chain.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Water ingress testing 8-12 times a day sounds good on paper, but we all know ground reality. Last month my bike started sputtering after filling from a local pump in Pune. The dealer said it was 'bad batch'. Ye sab bakwaas hai, action should be visible, not just statements. 🤔
Good to see proactive monitoring across the supply chain instead of just at retail. But these OMCs need to also educate consumers on how to identify adulteration. We pay premium prices for petrol and diesel, expecting clean fuel in return. Aadhaar-linked QR codes on fuel dispensers would add more accountability.
As an expat living in Bengaluru, I've seen both Indian and US fuel standards. This is a step in the right direction—better late than never. The 8-12 times daily water testing is impressive compared to global norms. Hope they also publish quarterly quality reports publicly to build consumer trust.
The government should also strengthen penalties. Currently, if a pump is caught adulterating, they just suspend sales temporarily. The profit from mixing is way higher than the fine. Make it a criminal offense with hefty penalties—that's the only way to deter these malpractices. 💯
I appreciate the ministry's response, but why only react after media reports? This should have been routine from day one. Also, consumers in rural areas often have fewer options—they either use the single pump in their village or travel 30 km. Those outlets especially need strict vigilance. Otherwise, remote customers are always at risk.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.