Customer Care Phone Number

Following widespread social media speculation and media reports alleging that E20 petrol (Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit – EBMS) contains high levels of moisture and up to 500 ppm of corrosive chlorides, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) along with state-run Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) launched an intensive, nationwide fuel testing drive.

The findings from hundreds of scientifically validated laboratory tests across refineries, distilleries, supply depots, and retail fuel stations confirm that claims of 500 ppm chloride and widespread moisture contamination are completely unfounded.

Actual laboratory tests reveal that chloride levels across India’s E20 supply chain consistently range between 0 to 3 ppm (parts per million)—well within the stringent limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Government of India.

Here is the complete factual breakdown of the nationwide quality surveillance results, testing methodologies, and safeguards deployed across 90,000+ retail outlets.

Nationwide E20 Testing at a Glance: Key Findings

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                     E20 Petrol Quality Verification Matrix                        |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  • Rumoured Claims        : ~500 ppm Chloride & Widespread Moisture Contamination |
|  • Actual Refinery Level  : <= 1 ppm Chloride (Over 100 refinery batches tested)   |
|  • Pure Ethanol (Factory) : < 3 ppm Chloride (80 distilleries audited nationwide) |
|  • OMC Depots / Terminals : < 3 ppm Chloride (80+ terminal samples verified)      |
|  • Retail Petrol Pumps    : 0 to 3 ppm Chloride (160+ reports from 1,000+ drive)  |
|  • Water Ingress Checks   : 8–12 times daily across ~90,000 retail outlets        |
|  • Verified Data Source   : Centre for High Technology (CHT) at www.cht.gov.in    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

1. Why Chloride and Moisture Matter in E20 Fuel

Ethanol blending is a cornerstone of India’s energy transition, aimed at reducing crude oil imports and carbon emissions. However, automotive enthusiasts and vehicle owners raised concerns regarding potential risks:

• Chloride Corrosion: Inorganic chlorides at high concentrations (e.g., several hundred ppm) can accelerate the corrosion of fuel injectors, fuel pumps, and metallic engine components.
• Water Phase Separation: Ethanol is naturally hygroscopic (attracts water). If water enters underground fuel storage tanks, it can cause the ethanol-petrol mixture to separate, leading to poor engine combustion and stalling.

To prevent these risks, the Government of India instituted high-frequency monitoring protocols across every segment of the supply chain.

2. Comprehensive Test Results Across the 4-Tier Supply Chain

   [ Stage 1: Refineries ] ──────► MS Chloride: <= 1 ppm
              │
              ▼
   [ Stage 2: Distilleries ] ────► Pure Ethanol Chloride: < 3 ppm (80 Units Tested)
              │
              ▼
   [ Stage 3: OMC Terminals ] ───► Blended E20 Chloride: < 3 ppm (80+ Depots)
              │
              ▼
   [ Stage 4: 90,000 Fuel Pumps ] ► Dispensed E20: 0 to 3 ppm (Zero Water Ingress)

1. Refineries (Motor Spirit Base)

• Sample Size: Over 100 randomly selected petrol batches across Indian refineries.
• Result: Chloride content was recorded at or below 1 ppm, proving that the base refining and dispatch mechanism is clean.

2. Distilleries (Pure Ethanol ex-Distillery)

• Monitoring Body: A joint task force comprising technical experts from OMCs (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL) and the Centre for High Technology (CHT).
• Sample Size: 80 standalone distilleries inspected across India in a 10-day intensive audit.
• Result: All 80 ethanol samples demonstrated chloride levels strictly under 3 ppm, disproving claims of unpurified industrial alcohol being supplied for blending.

3. OMC Depots & Tank Trucks (Storage & Transit)

• Sample Size: 80+ strategic fuel depots and bulk terminal tanks nationwide.
• Result: E20 blended samples maintained chloride levels below 3 ppm, confirming that no contamination occurs during bulk pipeline transfer or tank-truck haulage.

4. Retail Fuel Outlets (Petrol Pumps)

• Sample Size: Nationwide surveillance of 1,000+ retail outlets (with 160 laboratory reports finalized in the initial phase).
• Result: Chloride levels remained safely between 0 and 3 ppm.
• Isolated Cases: Out of over a thousand monitored pumps, only four isolated instances showed elevated readings. Supply at these four outlets was suspended immediately, root-cause analyses were conducted, and rectification was enforced before sales resumed.

3. Daily Water-Ingress Testing Across 90,000 Petrol Pumps

To tackle concerns surrounding water contamination in underground tanks, OMCs have mandated round-the-clock physical surveillance:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                    Daily Surveillance Protocol at Petrol Pumps                |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  1. Water-Finding Paste Test : Conducted 8 to 12 times EVERY DAY per tank     |
|  2. Density Checks           : Logged during every tanker delivery            |
|  3. Mobile Testing Labs      : Deployed for surprise random on-site testing   |
|  4. Independent Audits       : Periodic third-party lab sample validation     |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Across roughly 90,000 retail outlets in India, mandatory underground tank dipping (using water-finding pastes that change colour instantly if water is present) has revealed zero water ingress in regular operations.

4. Consumer Reassurance and Public Data Portal

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas reiterated that all E20 petrol dispensed across India conforms to stringent Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications.

• Public Verification: In the interest of total transparency, tabulated summaries of nationwide testing data are published on the official portal of the Centre for High Technology (CHT) at www.cht.gov.in and are updated continuously as new batch reports arrive.
• Consumer Confidence: Vehicle owners can continue fueling with E20 petrol with complete peace of mind, knowing that multi-stage automated checks and mobile testing vans actively safeguard engine integrity.

Technical Comparison: Media Claims vs. Official Lab Facts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is E20 petrol causing high chloride contamination in vehicles?

No. Official testing across the entire supply chain by OMCs and CHT revealed that chloride levels in E20 petrol range between 0 to 3 ppm, which is far below any threshold that could harm vehicle engines or fuel systems.

Q2. Does water mix into E20 fuel at petrol pumps?

No. Underground fuel storage tanks across approximately 90,000 retail outlets undergo mandatory water-finding paste tests 8 to 12 times daily, and inspections have shown zero water ingress.

Q3. Where can consumers check verified E20 fuel test reports?

Detailed, tabulated laboratory test summaries are published and updated regularly on the official website of the Centre for High Technology (CHT) at www.cht.gov.in.

Q4. What happens if a petrol pump fails fuel quality checks?

If elevated chloride levels or impurities are detected, fuel dispensing at that outlet is suspended immediately. The supply remains halted until a root-cause analysis is performed and corrective measures are verified.

Q5. Who conducted the audit of ethanol distilleries?

A dedicated joint task force consisting of members from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and the Centre for High Technology (CHT) conducted nationwide sample checks across 80 distilleries.