India fuel retailers claim E20 meets quality standards

According to a statement, India's state run fuel retailers stated that a nationwide test of e20 petrol did not support claims of high chloride contamination or moisture. The fuel quality was within the prescribed limits.

HPCL, BPCL and Indian Oil reported that more than 100 samples of petrol from refineries had chloride levels below a part per million (ppm), and ethanol samples taken from 80 distilleries showed a chloride level below 3 ppm.

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* The clarification comes amid concern?about India’s nationwide rollout of?E20 gasoline, which contains 20% ethanol.

The statement stated that more than 80 E20 samples taken from depots or terminals across the country also showed chloride levels of less than 3 ppm.

Oil marketing companies have said that they found no evidence of water intrusion in underground tanks at approximately 90,000 fuel stations and encouraged consumers to use 'E20 gasoline with confidence.

Some consumers have criticized the transition, saying that the higher ethanol blend will affect fuel efficiency and vehicle performance. This is especially true for older vehicles, which are not designed to run on this fuel type. (Reporting by Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

(source: Reuters)