‘Experimenting on 1.3bn people’: Priyank Kharge alleges excess ethanol blending

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NEW DELHI: Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday accused the Central government of misleading people over ethanol blending in petrol, alleging that reports from government-accredited laboratories showed ethanol content exceeding the limits announced by the Centre.Kharge also alleged that the ethanol-blending programme was being used to benefit companies linked to the families of Union ministers. He claimed that some laboratory reports had indicated blending levels of up to 35-40 per cent, while others showed 31 per cent.“The Government of India is lying through its teeth to the people. Very clearly, they had said that it (ethanol) will not be blended beyond a certain capacity, but NABL reports have proved that the ethanol blending is crossing the permissible limits, or at least the set limits that the govt had proclaimed. It’s up to 35%, 40% in some cases. The lab reports are endorsed by laboratories that are accredited by the Govt of India,” he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.The minister alleged that the policy was intended to facilitate certain companies. “This entire ethanol blending has been done only to facilitate companies of Union ministers,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi questions E20 petrol content; oil companies dispute Karnataka findings

Kharge’s remarks came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of failing to disclose the actual ethanol content in petrol being sold across the country.In a post on X, the Congress MP said tests conducted on petrol samples collected from seven districts in Karnataka had found ethanol levels above the prescribed 20 per cent.He claimed that 11 of the 14 samples tested contained more than 20 per cent ethanol, with samples from Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) recording 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively.Karnataka food, civil supplies, consumer affairs and legal metrology minister Rizwan Arshad had said the samples were collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru. The tests were conducted by the NABL-accredited and ISO-certified Shriram Research Institute in Bengaluru.However, state-run oil marketing companies IOC, BPCL and HPCL have disputed the Karnataka government’s findings. In a joint statement, the companies said E20 petrol supplied across their retail networks, including in Karnataka, complied with the Bureau of Indian Standards’ IS 17021 specifications, which prescribe an ethanol content of 19-21 per cent.The companies also questioned the sampling and testing procedures used by the state government, saying the third-party laboratory certificates did not provide sufficient details of the testing methodology to independently verify the reported levels.

Kharge questions Centre’s stand on ethanol blending

Kharge referred to the Solicitor General’s submission before the Supreme Court, in which ethanol blending was described as an experiment that was not being implemented across the country.“If you recollect, the Solicitor General had told in the Supreme Court that this entire ethanol blending was an experiment and is not happening throughout the country, but if you actually look closely, you are experimenting on 1.3 billion people. How does that even work? So it is very clear that this Government of India has been lying to its own people only for profiteering,” he said.He also cited the 31 per cent blending figure and referred to concerns raised by vehicle manufacturers over possible damage to vehicles.“This is cheating the public, cheating being done for the company of a central minister’s son. What is the NABL organisation saying? 31% blending is happening. They themselves are saying. Vehicle organisations have written letters saying vehicles are getting damaged; they have also threatened and intimidated, and got it withdrawn. Yesterday Rizwan Arshad spoke about NABL, where are BJP people now?” Kharge said.Rahul has also claimed that excessive ethanol blending could affect vehicle performance, leading to lower mileage and higher maintenance costs. He questioned the absence of labels at fuel stations disclosing the ethanol content of petrol.

India’s ethanol-blending programme began with a pilot initiative in 2001 and aims to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, strengthen domestic agricultural value chains and improve energy security.According to petroleum ministry data cited by the oil marketing companies, the programme has generated foreign exchange savings of more than Rs 1.97 lakh crore since the 2014-15 ethanol supply year, substituted around 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 952 lakh metric tonnes.During the 2025-26 ethanol supply year, which ended on October 31, 2026, the three public sector oil marketing companies procured 1,089 crore litres of ethanol and blended 1,134 crore litres against petrol sales of around 5,673 crore litres.