NEW DELHI, NOV 7 (IANS): Government-owned downstream oil majors—Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum– have directed petrol pumps nationwide to check their underground storage tanks and fuel dispensing nozzles for water contamination every two to eight hours, depending on the weather conditions, to ensure that the quality of ethanol-blended petrol (E20) is maintained.
The three public sector oil companies presently operate close to a lakh petrol pumps across the country.
Most retail outlets of Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum are expected to carry out mandatory checks every two to four hours, while Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has introduced testing after every eight hours.
The increased monitoring is being undertaken as ethanol comes in the category of hygroscopic liquids that easily absorb moisture from the surroundings. When E20 petrol comes into contact with water, the ethanol separates from petrol and forms a distinct water-ethanol layer at the bottom of the storage tank. This process is known as phase separation, a senior Indian Oil official said.
Ethanol-blended petrol absorbs the most water and moisture during hot, humid, and monsoon weather conditions. During the monsoon season or in coastal regions, high ambient moisture drastically increases how fast the blend takes in water.
Dealers have been asked to use alcohol-resistant water-finding paste to detect water ingress in storage tanks.
The Marketing Discipline Guidelines for the oil sector hold both fuel retailers and dealers responsible for ensuring that contaminated fuel is not sold to consumers. While oil companies are responsible for ensuring ethanol is blended in petrol according to government-prescribed limits, dealers must ensure that the right quality of fuel reaches consumers.
