NEW DELHI — The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) and public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have dismissed reports alleging high moisture and chloride levels in E20 petrol, confirming that nationwide testing shows fuel quality remains well within safety limits.
Addressing claims of up to 500 ppm chloride content, the ministry released empirical data showing that actual chloride levels in motor spirit across refineries, distilleries, depots, and retail outlets range strictly between 0 and 3 ppm, well below regulatory caps.
Key Highlights
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Chloride Claims Refuted: Extensive testing of over 1,000 samples across the supply chain confirmed chloride levels of 0–3 ppm, refuting claims of elevated concentration; refinery samples registered at or below 1 ppm.
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Distillery & Terminal Audits: Joint OMC-CHT task force inspections across 80 distilleries and more than 80 OMC terminals nationwide verified chloride levels under 3 ppm.
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Intensified Retail Surveillance: Underground storage tanks at ~90,000 retail outlets undergo mandatory water-ingress and density testing 8 to 12 times daily, with zero water ingress reported.
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Isolated Incident Protocols: Out of 160 analyzed retail outlet reports, four isolated instances of elevated chloride led to immediate supply suspension, root-cause analysis, and corrective action prior to operational restoration.
