The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ordered the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) to disclose historical data on petrol production, imports, ethanol procurement, blending, and sector profits after the ministry arm provided only partial information to an RTI applicant.
Information Commissioner Khushwant Singh Sethi instructed PPAC to email available historical data, provide direct web links for ethanol blending notifications, transfer ethanol supplier queries to the relevant authority, and issue a fresh response on company-wise petrol supplier details under RTI Act exemptions.
RTI Applicant Sought Six Sets of Data
The applicant requested year-wise details since 2014-15 on petrol production, imports, purchases, expenditure, and source-wise break-ups. PPAC claimed production and import data were publicly available but withheld company-specific details, citing commercial confidentiality under Sections 8(1)(d) and 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act.
After the applicant stated the information was not easily accessible, the CIC directed PPAC to email the historical data available on its website.
Ethanol Blending and Supplier Details
PPAC stated that ethanol blending norms are governed by the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, with notifications available on the Petroleum Ministry’s website. The CIC ordered the authority to provide direct links to these notifications.
For ethanol procurement and consumption data, PPAC said the details were included in its monthly Snapshot of India’s Oil & Gas report. The commission directed PPAC to share the historical data via email.
On ethanol supplier queries, including quantities and contracts with oil marketing companies (OMCs), PPAC claimed it did not hold the information. The CIC ordered it to transfer the request to the concerned public authority.
Company-Wise Petrol Supplier and Profit Data
The applicant also sought company-wise petrol supplier details, their contribution to total supply, and copies of supply agreements. PPAC refused, citing commercial confidentiality. The CIC directed a fresh reply invoking the appropriate RTI Act provisions.
For annual profits from petrol sales, profit margins, and calculation methodology, PPAC referred the applicant to tax data. The CIC ordered PPAC to email all available historical information on the subject.
