The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Tuesday dismissed reports of fuel-quality issues, stating that additional checks have been introduced to detect fuel contamination and adulteration, according to Business Today. The ministry's clarification comes amid publicised claims of adulteration, which it said do not reflect the overall quality-control situation across the country.
Ministry Response
"Fuel quality is monitored on a regular basis by Oil Marketing Companies," the ministry said, adding that "further checks have been instituted" alongside existing testing protocols. The ministry emphasised that advanced and elaborate testing protocols were already in place, and that the additional measures are designed to strengthen surveillance across the fuel retail network.
In an official statement quoted by Business Today, the ministry said:
"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," it said.
Expanded Testing Protocols
According to the ministry, water-ingress testing is now being carried out 8–12 times a day at more than 87,000 fuel outlets across India. This high-frequency testing is intended to detect contamination caused by water ingress, a common quality risk at retail stations.
In parallel, the ministry reported that over 2,000 samples have been tested for chloride and sulphide contamination. These chemical contaminants can affect fuel combustion performance and engine integrity, making their detection a critical part of quality assurance.
| Testing parameter | Frequency / Volume |
|---|---|
| Water-ingress testing | 8–12 times per day at 87,000+ outlets |
| Chloride/sulphide sample testing | Over 2,000 samples tested |
| Chloride contamination cases found | 2 cases nationwide |
| Cases suspended | Sales from affected pumps suspended immediately |
Chloride Contamination Findings
"Over 2000 samples have also been tested for chloride/sulphide. Only 2 cases of chloride contamination have been found in the entire country till now and sales from those pumps were suspended immediately," the ministry added. The low detection rate — just two cases out of more than 2,000 samples — indicates that the fuel supply chain is largely free of chloride and sulphide contamination, according to the ministry.
Supply Chain Implications
The ministry added that "strict action will be taken" if contamination or adulteration is found at any retail outlet. It also instructed oil marketing companies to take "proactive steps" to detect possible contamination across the fuel supply chain.
These measures, including the high-frequency water-ingress testing at over 87,000 outlets and the testing of more than 2,000 samples for chloride and sulphide, form part of the ministry's ongoing quality-monitoring efforts, according to Business Today.
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