Keralam tests petrol at fuel stations after Karnataka finds 31% of ethanol in E20

Days after the Congress government of Karnataka alleged that petrol sold at fuel stations contained up to 31.2% ethanol against the E20 benchmark, the party-led government in Kerala has begun testing petrol at pumps across four districts. The Keralam government said that the inspections follow complaints of vehicle damage, even as oil marketing companies and the Centre have rejected Karnataka's findings.The VD Satheesan-led Kerala government has ordered inspections of petrol pumps across four districts to check for excess ethanol blending. (File/ India Today-edit)New Delhi,Nov 9, 2026 16:26 ISTJust days after the government of Karnataka alleged that petrol sold at fuel stations in the state contained up to 31.2% ethanol, far above the prescribed E20 blend of 20%, authorities in neighbouring Keralam have launched inspections. Both Karnataka and Keralam are ruled by the Congress, which is in the opposition at the Centre.Keralam, led by Chief Minister VD Satheesan, has started random inspections of petrol pumps across four districts to check whether fuel contains excess ethanol, the state government said on Monday. The move also follows complaints from motorists about damage to their vehicles and fears over fuel quality, reported PTI. The Congress-led UDF government has warned of sealing petrol outlets and prosecuting those responsible if violations are detected.On Monday, Keralam Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said petrol samples were being collected and sent to government laboratories for testing. The results are expected within 10 days, reported PTI.The inspections in Keralam come days after Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad on November 6 alleged that laboratory tests of petrol samples collected from seven districts in the Congress-ruled state showed ethanol content reaching 31.2%, against the E20 benchmark of 20%. Public sector oil companies rejected the findings the very same day, questioning the sampling and testing methods used by the state government.The allegations have reignited the controversy surrounding the Centre's E20 petrol programme, which has faced criticism since its nationwide rollout earlier this year. Motorists have raised concerns over reduced mileage, engine compatibility and higher maintenance costs, while Opposition parties have questioned the government's push for ethanol-blended petrol and its impact on consumers. WHY KERALAM IS TESTING PETROLKeralam's decision to inspect fuel pumps in the state follows complaints about vehicle damage and concerns that petrol might contain more ethanol than permitted, the state government said."In view of complaints being received from the public about vehicles being damaged and the apprehensions they have about the presence of more than permissible limits of ethanol in fuel, it is the government's responsibility to allay their fears. That is why the inspections have been ordered," Keralam Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said on Monday, according to PTI. Samples are being collected from petrol outlets in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur.The minister said the samples would be tested at government laboratories and results would be available within 10 days.Jacob also warned that outlets found selling petrol with excessive ethanol content could face sealing and prosecution.Jacob said no instance of excess ethanol blending had been reported in the state so far, according to The Indian Express.HOW THE E20 CONTROVERSY ERUPTED IN KARNATAKAThe row erupted last week on November 6 when Karnataka minister Rizwan Arshad announced findings from tests conducted on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.India Today reported on November 6 that the state collected 63 samples from several fuel companies. Arshad claimed that some samples contained considerably more ethanol than the E20 benchmark, with Indian Oil recording 31.2% and Hindustan Petroleum 30.5%.Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar demanded action against oil companies and compensation for motorists allegedly affected by excessive ethanol blending.According to Reuters, Karnataka's findings indicated that nearly four out of five petrol pumps surveyed had supplied fuel exceeding the 20% ethanol benchmark.OIL COMPANIES REJECT KARNATAKA'S ETHANOL CLAIMSOn the same day (November 6), Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation rejected Karnataka's findings."The OMCs would like to clarify that the claims, as reported, are not supported by testing conducted in accordance with the prescribed statutory and technical procedures," the companies said in a joint statement reported by ANI.They maintained that their E20 petrol complied with IS 17021, the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for ethanol-blended petrol.On November 7, the Union Petroleum Ministry in a press release said all 893 samples tested across 27 states and Union Territories had ethanol content within the prescribed 19% to 21% range. These included 56 samples from Karnataka, where ethanol content ranged between 19% and 20%, the ministry said.The Centre also questioned Karnataka's testing methodology and sought joint sampling and independent verification.The dispute also intensified political criticism of the ethanol-blending programme. On November 7, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the Centre over Karnataka's findings. "E20 turned into 420. Stealing petrol from the public's cars!" he said in a social media post.Rahul Gandhi accused oil companies of supplying petrol containing more ethanol than declared and raised concerns over mileage and vehicle damage.The Centre, however, has defended ethanol blending as a way to improve energy security, reduce crude oil imports and support agricultural value chains.With Keralam now conducting its own tests, the controversy has expanded beyond Karnataka. The results from Keralam's laboratories could provide an assessment of petrol quality amid the conflicting claims between Karnataka and the Centre.- Ends(Written by: Sushim Mukul)