E20 row: Keralam to test petrol for excess ethanol blending after Karnataka findings

The Keralam government has ordered tests on petrol samples from four districts following allegations that oil companies are selling fuel with ethanol content above the prescribed limit. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob has directed officials to collect samples from outlets in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur.Jacob said the decision followed discussions with Chief Minister VD Satheesan. The samples will be tested at laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in the respective districts. Officials have also said forensic laboratories are equipped to conduct the tests.Jacob warned that strict action would be taken if the tests establish that petrol contains more than the permitted 20% ethanol. He said there had been no complaints of excessive blending in Keralam so far, but allegations from Karnataka prompted the state to conduct preventive checks.The inspections follow a dispute between the Karnataka government and oil marketing companies over the ethanol content of petrol sold in the state. Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad said tests on 63 samples collected from seven districts found that several exceeded the E20 limit, with the highest reading at 31.2%.The Karnataka government said nearly four out of five samples tested had ethanol content above 20%. The samples were collected from outlets selling fuel supplied by Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, Nayara Energy, Shell and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.Arshad said the state initially sent samples to the in-house laboratories of Indian Oil and BPCL, but the reports did not disclose ethanol content. The government subsequently sent them to private NABL-accredited laboratories. He said the testing was initiated after motorists complained of reduced mileage and frequent vehicle repairs.Oil marketing companies have disputed Karnataka's findings and questioned the testing methodology. In a joint statement, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum said tests conducted through prescribed procedures did not support the allegations. The Union Petroleum Ministry said tests on 893 E20 samples collected from 27 states and Union Territories found ethanol content between 19% and 21%. This included 56 samples from Karnataka.The Union government has defended the E20 programme, which involves blending up to 20% ethanol with petrol. It has cited the potential to reduce crude oil imports and dependence on fossil fuels. Union Minister of State for Petroleum Suresh Gopi said states were free to test fuel but cautioned against politicising the issue. He said the decision to permit E20 blending had followed scientific studies.Keralam's inspections will be conducted under 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.