E20 petrol range: Keralam steps up fuel checks after Karnataka flagged ethanol blending above prescribed limit of 20% | Today’s news
The Kerala government has stepped up checks at petrol pumps across the state amid fears of excessive ethanol blending in fuel following allegations in Karnataka that petrol sold at some outlets contained ethanol levels above the prescribed 20 per cent limit.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said spot checks were conducted in four districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur – following complaints of vehicle damage and concerns over ethanol content in petrol.
During the latest inspection in Kochi, the Kerala Civil Supplies Department collected six one-litre petrol samples and sent two of them to the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory in Kakinada for testing. Results are awaited.
District Civil Supplies Officer Shaji PR told ANI that officials have checked the ethanol content of regular petrol at fuel outlets.
“We have checked the details of the amount of ethanol in the motor spirit, ordinary petrol. Six samples of one liter were collected. We have sent two samples to the analytical chemistry laboratory in Kakinada. We are waiting for the result,” he said.
Keralam warns of action due to excess ethanol in petrol
Jacob said the state government had ordered the spot checks to address public concerns about the possibility of petrol containing ethanol above legal limits.
“In view of the public’s complaints of damage to vehicles and their apprehensions over the presence of more than permissible limits of ethanol in fuel, it is the duty of the government to allay their apprehensions. That is why inspections have been ordered,” PTI reported.
The minister said samples would be taken at random and sent to government laboratories, with results expected within 10 days.
He added that ethanol content exceeding 20 percent was not allowed and warned that violations could lead to the closure of gasoline outlets and the prosecution of those responsible.
According to Jacob, the Commissioner of Civil Supplies was authorized to supervise the sampling. Officials are taking samples from the northern and southern districts, following prescribed protocols. Oil company representatives were also asked to remain present during sampling.
Jacob had earlier said that a 2014 state notification issued under the Central Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractice) Ordinance, 2005 empowers officials from the Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs to the Taluk Supply Officer to conduct inspections and initiate legal action.
What is the Karnataka E20 Petrol Controversy?
The inspections in Kerala follow allegations by the Karnataka government that major oil marketing companies are supplying petrol with ethanol content exceeding the prescribed 20 percent limit. Tests reportedly found ethanol levels as high as 31.2 percent in some samples.
Karnataka Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Rizwan Arshad said the charges were based on tests conducted on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.
The Karnataka government has sought action against the companies for alleged violations.
However, public sector petroleum companies have rejected claims that petrol sold at some retail outlets in the state contained up to 31 per cent ethanol.
They claimed that E20 petrol supplied across the country, including Karnataka, conforms to IS 17021, the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for ethanol-blended automotive petrol. The companies also questioned the sampling procedure and testing methodology adopted in October 2026.
Consumers have a right to know the ethanol content, Jacob says
Jacob described the concerns raised by Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as a major issue that needs attention across the country.
Talking to ANI, the minister said that consumers have a right to know the quantity and quality of ethanol mixed in petrol, especially in complaints of vehicle damage and reduced mileage.
“Consumers have a right to know what they are using,” he said, adding that concerns about the quality of ethanol and whether its content exceeds prescribed limits should be communicated to customers.
Jacob also urged that politics should not come into the issue, saying that complaints about vehicle damage and declining mileage should be dealt with on their merits.
Before deciding on the next course of action, the state government is waiting for the laboratory results of the samples taken.
Read also | IOCL, HPCL petrol samples record more than 30% ethanol: K’taka government
