Pralhad Joshi questioned the credibility of Karnataka’s ethanol in petrol test results on Monday night. He said the state used unapproved labs and flawed sampling methods. "They do not mention the test method, calibration, dilution or reference sample," Joshi noted. He also highlighted a contradiction regarding the state's ethanol demand.
Joshi questioned the sampling and testing procedures followed by Karnataka, arguing that the laboratories involved were not among those approved under the notified guidelines.
The Minister New & Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi attacked the Karnataka government's findings on percentage of ethanol in petrol claiming that the requisite procedures for sampling and testing were not followed.
"The Karnataka certificates state only "Ethanol % by Gas Chromatography". They do not mention the test method, calibration, dilution or reference sample," Joshi, who is also the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, said on X late Monday night.
The Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, Government of Karnataka, has claimed that petrol sold at certain retail outlets in the state contains between 26 per cent and 31 per cent ethanol.
The samples showing 26-31 per cent ethanol content in Karnataka recorded densities of just 0.742-0.749 g/cc. In contrast, the samples tested by Oil Marketing Companies (OMC), which confirmed compliant E20 petrol, recorded higher densities of 0.752-0.760 g/cc. He added.
"With more than 20 per cent ethanol content the density should have been much higher than the E20 Petrol. How ever it was not. More over none of the labs that tested these samples were part of the approved schedule 3 labs that are notified in the gazette," Joshi emphasised.
The deficiencies in its sampling procedure, retention samples and laboratory certification raise serious questions about the credibility of the measurement, the Minister added.
"Now look at Karnataka's own ethanol figures: In 2025-26, Karnataka distilleries were allocated 165.89 crore litres of ethanol, including 97.54 crore litres from sugarcane-based feedstocks. Of the 30 lakh tonnes of sugar diverted for ethanol across India, Karnataka alone accounted for 11.92 lakh metric tonnes as of August 31, 2026 -- nearly 40 per cent of the national diversion," he added.
"And here is the fundamental contradiction: If the Karnataka Government believes ethanol blending is detrimental to farmers, why does it seek greater ethanol allocation for its sugar industry?", Joshi questioned.
The ethanol programme has also helped India save over ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substitute approximately 316 lakh tonnes of crude oil imports and reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 952 lakh tonnes.
Last week, responding to claims by Karnataka, the PSU OMCs in a joint statement said that certificates do not provide the complete technical details necessary to independently verify the reported ethanol content. The absence of counterpart samples and the prescribed documentation has also denied the OMCs and concerned dealers an opportunity to seek verification or retesting.