Lab tests show ethanol blend in petrol as high as 31% in Karnataka

The Hindu · Rashmi Patil · 2026-11-06 10:42 UTC

Petrol from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) recorded ethanol blend percentage of 31.2% and 30.5%, respectively.

Petrol sold by several major oil companies in Karnataka contained ethanol far above the prescribed 20% level, in some cases as high as 31.2%, the State government has alleged, raising questions about transparency in the controversial ethanol blend petrol being sold to consumers across the country.

The samples in question were taken recently by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs from Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, and Dakshina Kannada districts in Karnataka, said Rizwan Arshad, Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Karnataka, on November 6.

Petrol samples from major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) recorded ethanol blend percentage of 31.2% and 30.5%, respectively. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Nayara, and Shell petrol samples revealed 26.5%, 26.1%, and 25.5% ethanol blend, respectively, he said.

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