Petrol: ପେଟ୍ରୋଲ୍‌ରେ କ୍ଲୋରାଇଡ୍‌ ମାତ୍ରା ଅଧିକ

According to a report by Sambad, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has formally written to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to express concerns regarding the quality of E20 petrol currently available in the market. The industry body alleges that high levels of chloride in the fuel are causing damage to various vehicle components, prompting a call for mandatory quality limits to be established.

In addition to concerns regarding chloride content, SIAM has highlighted issues with excessive moisture levels in the fuel. The association reports that while the maximum permissible moisture limit is 3,000 milligrams per kilogram, some samples have been found to exceed 10,000 milligrams per kilogram. The industry group warns that such high moisture content can lead to significant operational issues for vehicles.

The push for stricter fuel standards comes as the adoption of E20 petrol—a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% gasoline—continues to expand across India as part of the government's broader energy and environmental strategy. SIAM's intervention suggests that vehicle manufacturers are facing technical challenges as they adapt engines to handle the chemical properties of higher ethanol blends.

As of now, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has not issued a formal response to the specific allegations raised by SIAM. The request for mandatory limits on chloride and moisture reflects ongoing efforts by the automotive sector to ensure that fuel quality keeps pace with the engineering requirements of modern, ethanol-compatible vehicle fleets.