The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has raised serious concerns regarding the quality of E20 petrol, the ethanol-blended fuel now implemented nationwide. Automakers report a substantial increase in vehicle component failures, attributing these issues to high chloride contamination and excessive moisture found in fuel samples.
Automakers Flag Critical E20 Fuel Contamination
SIAM has formally appealed to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, advocating for the mandatory inclusion of chloride limits in Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) fuel specifications. The industry body also seeks enhanced quality controls from oil marketing companies (OMCs) at retail outlets, highlighting that this issue has been brought before the BIS committee for over two years without a resolution.
Investigations into failed vehicle parts, including fuel injectors, fuel pumps, EGR valves, and exhaust systems, have consistently revealed corrosion or wear directly linked to elevated chloride presence. Fuel samples collected from vehicle tanks have shown chloride concentrations as high as 500 mg/kg, while samples from retail outlets across various regions recorded up to 350 mg/kg. This surge in chloride-related problems is specifically noted by SIAM as occurring after the E20 rollout, with very few such incidents reported prior.
Beyond chlorides, automakers have also observed excessive moisture in E20 petrol. While the permissible moisture level stands at 3,000 mg/kg, many cases have shown levels exceeding 10,000 mg/kg, or 1%. High moisture content can lead to fuel phase separation, potentially immobilizing a vehicle shortly after refueling. SIAM suggests poor maintenance of underground storage tanks and pipelines at retail outlets as a possible source of this contamination, urging for inspections and periodic audits.
Proposed Solutions for Fuel Integrity
To mitigate these risks, SIAM has proposed a total chloride limit of less than 1 mg/kg (or ppm) for commercial E20 and E85 fuels. Additionally, they recommend a limit of less than 3 mg/kg for anhydrous ethanol used in blending. The industry body emphasizes that while it supports India's ethanol blending program, stringent fuel quality controls are essential to prevent component failures and maintain consumer confidence in E20.
Government Assures Fuel Quality Monitoring
In response to these reports, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that fuel quality is rigorously monitored by oil marketing companies. The ministry confirmed that water ingress testing is conducted 8-12 times daily across more than 87,000 retail outlets nationwide. Over 2,000 samples have been specifically tested for chloride and sulphide contamination.
According to the ministry, only two instances of chloride contamination have been detected across the country so far, both leading to immediate suspension of sales from the affected outlets. The government reiterated its commitment to taking strict action against any detected contamination or adulteration and has instructed OMCs to proactively monitor the entire fuel supply chain for such issues.