Now Reading: Fuel dealers seek cost cover for E20 quality tests
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Fuel dealers seek cost cover for E20 quality tests
Fuel dealers across India have asked oil marketing companies (OMCs) and the petroleum ministry to bear the cost of E20 quality checks. The OMC-prescribed water-mixing test alters the sample, making it unfit…
The Story in Brief
Fuel dealers across India have asked oil marketing companies (OMCs) and the petroleum ministry to bear the cost of E20 quality checks. The OMC-prescribed water-mixing test alters the sample, making it unfit for sale. At a round-the-clock pump, about 9 litres of petrol can be lost daily, dealers say. Bihar Petroleum Dealers Association president Prabhat Kumar Singh said OMCs should provide scientifically validated testing equipment instead of asking dealers to rely on unscientific methods.
Meanwhile, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said OMCs began rigorous testing from mid-July, collecting 2,000 samples a day. Only 4 contamination cases were found among 107,000 outlets, he told a CII conference on August 7. OMCs also formed a task force with the Centre for High Technology, which tested ethanol samples from 80 distilleries. Dealers from 14 states have demanded compensation until proper equipment is approved.
The Indian Opinion
The E20 rollout pits government speed against ground reality. Dealers say mandatory water-mixing tests waste 9 litres of petrol per day per pump. Oil Minister Puri counters that only 4 contamination cases were found among 107,000 outlets. But the dealers’ core grievance is procedural: they want OMCs to own testing costs until non-destructive equipment is approved. If OMCs supply the fuel, why should retailers pay to verify it? The test to watch is, will the ministry notify an SOP before the next quarterly review?
Sources (3): livemint.com, thehindubusinessline.com, thehindubusinessline.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
