The Karnataka government has intensified its dispute with oil marketing companies (OMCs), alleging that petrol sold at several fuel stations contains ethanol levels well above the mandated 20 percent limit. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad said laboratory tests on 63 fuel samples collected across the state found ethanol content reaching as high as 31.2 percent in some cases. The state has defended its testing process, stating that all samples were collected under prescribed legal procedures and examined at an NABL-accredited, ISO-certified laboratory. Karnataka has challenged OMCs to disclose the actual ethanol content of the sampled fuel and explain the reported discrepancies.

Rejecting the companies’ claims that the issue may have originated at individual petrol pumps, the minister said ethanol blending is carried out at automated fuel terminals and not by dealers. He accused OMCs of avoiding direct answers by questioning the sampling process instead of addressing the laboratory findings. Arshad also questioned whether higher ethanol blending had begun unofficially ahead of any formal government policy, referring to recent remarks about a possible nationwide shift toward E30 fuel. He further claimed that excessive ethanol content could reduce vehicle mileage, damage engines not designed for higher blends, and increase costs for consumers.

The Karnataka government has demanded that motorists be allowed to choose the type of fuel that suits their vehicles, including E10, E20, E30, and pure petrol. According to the minister, consumers should receive exactly the fuel grade they are paying for rather than a higher ethanol blend sold under a different label. He announced that the state will continue conducting random fuel tests through independent laboratories and urged other state governments to carry out similar checks to ensure transparency, protect vehicle owners, and hold oil marketing companies accountable for fuel quality.