Published Nov 07, 2026 | 5:29 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 07, 2026 | 5:30 PM
Motorists have complained about reduced mileage because ethanol contains less energy than conventional petrol.
Allegations of excessive ethanol blending in petrol in neighbouring Karnataka have prompted the Keralam government to order inspections at fuel outlets across the state to check whether the prescribed limits are being violated.
Minister for Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob has directed the Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs to collect petrol samples from selected outlets in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur districts for lab tests.
The decision was taken after consultations with Chief Minister VD Satheesan.
The minister said there had been no complaints or reports of excessive ethanol content in petrol sold in Keralam so far. However, the findings reported by the Karnataka government prompted the state to initiate preventive checks.
The issue surfaced in Karnataka after the Congress-led government there claimed that laboratory tests had detected ethanol concentrations of up to 31.2% in petrol samples collected from seven districts, exceeding the Centre’s prescribed E20 blending limit. The samples were reportedly collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.
However, the oil marketing companies have disputed the Karnataka government’s findings. Indian Oil Corporation, in a joint statement with Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum, said tests conducted through prescribed procedures did not substantiate the allegations.
According to the companies, all 893 samples tested across 27 States and Union Territories, including 56 from Karnataka, contained ethanol within the stipulated range of 19-21%.
Keralam’s inspection drive will be carried out under the provisions of a 2014 state notification issued in accordance with the Centre’s Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005.
The notification empowers the Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, and officials down to the level of Taluk Supply Officers, to inspect fuel outlets and initiate legal proceedings in cases of violations.
Jacob said stringent action would follow if tests establish that petrol outlets are selling fuel with ethanol content beyond the permitted limits.
The inspections are intended to establish whether the concerns raised in Karnataka have any bearing on fuel supplies in Keralam.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
