Random ethanol tests start at selected fuel outlets in Keralam

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala minister Anoop Jacob said on Monday that random inspections are being conducted at petrol outlets in four districts after allegations in Karnataka that fuel was being sold with ethanol content above the prescribed limit. Jacob told reporters that, apart from the findings in Karnataka, complaints have also been received in Kerala about vehicles getting damaged. Based on this, the government decided to order inspections.

“In view of complaints being received from the public about vehicles being damaged and their concerns over the possibility of ethanol levels in fuel exceeding the permissible limit, it is the government’s responsibility to reassure them. That is why the inspections have been ordered,” he said. The food and civil supplies minister said samples would be collected at random and sent to a government laboratory for testing, with results expected within 10 days.

He added that ethanol content above 20 per cent is not permitted in fuel, and any violation would result in the sealing of the outlet and prosecution of those responsible. Samples are being collected from different locations in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Jacob had earlier said that under a 2014 state notification issued in line with the Central Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Order, 2005, officials from the Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs down to Taluk Supply Officers are authorised to carry out inspections and take legal action.

Karnataka had alleged that major oil marketing companies were supplying petrol with ethanol content beyond the prescribed 20 per cent limit, with tests reportedly showing levels as high as 31.2 per cent. The state has sought action against the companies. Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad said at a recent press conference that the allegations were based on tests conducted on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.

Public sector oil marketing companies have denied the claim that petrol sold at some retail outlets in Karnataka contained up to 31 per cent ethanol. They said the E20 petrol supplied across the country, including Karnataka, was in line with IS 17021, the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for ethanol-blended motor gasoline. The companies also questioned the sampling procedure and testing methodology used in the October 2026 exercise.

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