Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Automobile industry body SIAM has flagged rising concerns over the quality of E20 petrol, warning that contamination at fuel pumps was causing an increase in failures of critical engine and exhaust components, according to a media report published on Tuesday. The concerns have prompted the Union government to step up monitoring at petrol pumps, even as it maintains that fuel contamination cases remain extremely rare. The media report, plus others that quoted it, were found to have been withdrawn later on Tuesday.
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Responding to reports of fuel contamination, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) said oil marketing companies (OMCs) regularly monitor fuel quality and have further strengthened testing protocols across the country.
“Certain media reports have cited issues of fuel adulteration or contamination. It is hereby clarified that fuel quality is monitored on a regular basis by Oil Marketing Companies. In addition to the advanced and elaborate testing protocols already in place, further checks have been instituted, including water ingress testing 8–12 times a day in over 87,000 outlets,” the ministry’s statement said.
The ministry added that over 2,000 fuel samples had been tested for chloride and sulphide contamination, with only two cases of chloride contamination detected nationwide so far. “Sales from those pumps were suspended immediately. Strict action will be taken in case any contamination or adulteration is found in any retail outlet,” it said, adding that OMCs had also been directed to proactively detect possible contamination across the entire fuel supply chain.
MOISTURE AND CHLORIDE CONTAMINATION FOUND IN PUMPS: SIAM REPORT
The government’s clarification came after a now-deleted CNBC-TV18 report on Tuesday said the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) had written to the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, raising concerns over deteriorating fuel quality following the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, a fuel blend containing 20% ethanol and 80% petrol.
According to the report, SIAM, which is a non-profit group representing major Indian auto and engine producers, warned that high chloride contamination and excessive moisture in ethanol-blended petrol were leading to a “huge increase” in the replacement of fuel injectors, fuel pumps, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves, exhaust components and other parts that come into direct contact with fuel or engine emissions.
The automobile industry body reportedly said field investigations found “corrosion and abnormal wear caused by chloride contamination” to be the primary reason behind the component failures.
Fuel samples collected from vehicle fuel tanks reportedly showed chloride contamination levels of up to 500 mg/kg, while samples drawn from retail fuel outlets recorded levels of up to 350 mg/kg.
CHLORIDE CONTAMINATION HIGH SINCE E20 POLICY IMPLEMENTATION, ACCORDING TO SIAM: REPORT
According to the now-deleted CNBC-TV18 report, SIAM noted that incidents related to chloride contamination had increased significantly since the introduction of E20 fuel across the country. The automobile manufacturers’ body cautioned that chloride contamination could severely corrode engine and exhaust system components, leading to immediate failures or long-term damage depending on the contamination level.
It also warned that recurring contamination-related incidents could erode consumer confidence in ethanol-blended fuels, a key pillar of the government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme.
To address the issue, SIAM reportedly urged the government to introduce mandatory chloride limits in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) fuel specifications.
Under BIS specifications, automotive fuels must be free from added chlorine and chloride materials. If a consumer dispute arises regarding chloride content, a threshold above 10 mg/kg triggers testing via X-Ray fluorescence or micro-coulometric techniques.
SIAM has recommended a total chloride limit of less than 1 mg/kg for commercial E20 and E85 fuels and less than 3 mg/kg for anhydrous ethanol used in blending.
According to CNBC-TV18, SIAM informed the petroleum ministry that it had been pursuing the proposal with the BIS for more than two years, but it has yet to be incorporated into fuel standards.
SIAM FLAGGED EXCESSIVE MOISTURE LEVELS IN PUMPS: REPORT
Apart from chloride contamination, SIAM also flagged excessive moisture levels in E20 petrol sold at retail outlets, according to the report. The now-deleted report said several fuel samples recorded moisture levels exceeding 10,000 mg/kg, more than three times the permissible limit of 3,000 mg/kg.
Ethanol is hygroscopic in nature, which means that it attracts moisture.
The industry body warned that excessive moisture could trigger phase separation in ethanol-blended fuel, potentially leaving vehicles stranded immediately after refuelling.
SIAM has also urged the Centre to direct OMCs to identify the root causes of contamination and strengthen quality monitoring across the retail fuel distribution network.
According to the report, the industry body identified ageing underground storage tanks and pipelines at petrol pumps as possible sources of water ingress and contamination. It recommended periodic inspections and audits of older retail outlets to minimise such risks.
The CNBC-TV18 report further said SIAM has sought mandatory chloride limits for diesel fuel as well, noting that chloride testing for diesel is currently optional. It has called for immediate regulatory intervention to strengthen fuel quality standards and reduce contamination-related vehicle failures.
The latest concerns come amid the government’s push to expand the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme, which aims to reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil while lowering carbon emissions. While the Centre has maintained that fuel quality monitoring remains robust and contamination incidents are isolated, SIAM’s observations underscore the challenges of maintaining quality standards across a nationwide fuel distribution network as ethanol blending levels increase.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
