Oil marketing companies (OMC) have reiterated the fuel quality of E20 petrol, pointing out that, chloride presence in petrol has remained consistently within the prescribed limits. After media reports on moisture and chloride in E20 petrol, OMCs carried out a nationwide intensive testing covering the entire EBMS supply chain.
The testing at the refinery level revealed that, actual chloride levels in petrol is well within 1 ppm. In case of ethanol supplied by distilleries the samples collected from 80 distilleries across the country in last 10 days showed chloride content less than 3 ppm. For samples across the nation collected from various OMC terminals, the results showed chloride content below 3 ppm.
Further under the intensified monitoring programme of more than 1000 samples were collected at retail outlets. So far 160 test reports have been analysed for chloride content in last few days and levels are in range of 0-3 ppm contrary to the claims of several hundred ppm, said OMCs. .
The surveillance system identified only four isolated instances at retail outlets where elevated chloride levels were detected. The sale was suspended immediately, followed by detailed root-cause analysis and implementation of appropriate corrective measures before restoration of supplies.
OMCs also conducted water ingress testing in the underground storage of about 90,000 retail outlets. “The underground tanks at ROs are being inspected 8–12 times every day and have not revealed any water ingress so far,” pointed out OMCs.
The evidence shows that there is no cause for any alarm on account of fuel contamination, said OMCs.
“We would like to reassure all our esteemed customers that we treat fuel quality as a matter of highest priority and any issue that could potentially affect the vehicle performance or consumer confidence is addressed promptly through scientific investigation and corrective action,” said OMCs.
The centre has prescribed a stringent chloride specification for ethanol used in petrol blending and has also put in place a high-frequency monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance across the entire supply chain. Chloride monitoring is being done at multiple point of supply chain including refineries, distilleries, depots/terminals and retail outlets nationwide. The quality is being consistently maintained throughout the supply chain.
In addition to the already established quality assurance protocols, mobile fuel quality testing laboratories have also been deployed across locations, while test results are being independently validated through fuel laboratories to ensure the highest standards of quality assurance.
“Consumers should continue to use E20 petrol with confidence, as the fuel supplied through the petrol pump network conforms to the prescribed quality specifications and is backed by robust quality assurance and monitoring systems designed to safeguard consumer interests at every stage of the supply chain,” said OMCs.
