Keralam has started random inspections at petrol pumps across the state to verify ethanol content in E20 petrol, following findings in neighbouring Karnataka that indicated ethanol concentrations exceeding the prescribed 20 per cent blending limit in samples collected from select retail outlets.
According to State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob, officials were collecting random fuel samples to check whether petrol supplied across the state complied with the prescribed ethanol-blending standards, according to a report by NDTV Profit.
District Civil Supplies Officer Shaji PR said officials inspected an Indian Oil Corporation petrol pump at Chembumukku in Ernakulam district on Monday. They collected six one-litre samples of regular petrol, of which two were forwarded to the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory in Kakkanad for testing. The results are awaited, PTI reported.
What Prompted Scrutiny
The inspections in Keralam come after the state's authorities took note of findings by Karnataka's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology. The department reported ethanol concentrations ranging from 26 per cent to 31.2 per cent in petrol samples collected from certain retail outlets.
The findings raised questions over compliance with the Centre's E20 blending mandate, which requires petrol to contain 20 per cent ethanol.
The Union Petroleum Ministry, however, has defended the quality of E20 petrol supplied by public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs), maintaining that the fuel meets the prescribed specifications.
According to the ministry, all 893 samples tested by the three state-run OMCs, including 56 collected from Karnataka, recorded ethanol content within the 19-21 per cent range stipulated under the Bureau of Indian Standards' IS 17021 specification.
The ministry said the 56 samples tested from Karnataka contained between 19 per cent and 20 per cent ethanol.
Public sector OMCs have challenged Karnataka's findings, raising questions about the sampling and testing procedures used during the state's October inspection exercise. They have sought access to the complete sampling records, laboratory reports and testing methodology, while proposing joint testing of the samples in accordance with prescribed procedures.
'States Can Conduct Independent E20 Tests'
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi was quoted as saying that Karnataka and Keralam are free to conduct independent tests to determine the ethanol content in petrol.
Gopi said the Centre's ethanol-blending policy was backed by scientific assessments and that the E20 programme had been introduced after evaluating its feasibility and scientific implications.
He also cautioned against politicising the issue, warning that unnecessary controversy could have consequences for consumers.
The Centre's ethanol-blending programme is intended to reduce India's reliance on imported crude oil, bring down emissions and support farmers by increasing ethanol procurement.
The Petroleum Ministry has maintained that the effect of E20 petrol on vehicle mileage differs across vehicle categories and depends on engine calibration.
