Kerala Begins Random Fuel Inspections Amid Ethanol Concerns: Report

Kerala has commenced random inspections and sample collections at retail fuel outlets across the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Kannur, according to a report from PTI.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob stated that the checks were launched following public grievances regarding vehicle damage and rising apprehensions over ethanol concentrations exceeding permissible limits.

"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," Jacob said.

Collected samples are being dispatched to government laboratories for analysis, with test results expected within 10 days. Under existing guidelines, ethanol blending beyond 20 percent is prohibited, and any established violations will result in the immediate sealing of the offending fuel outlet.

The state-level intervention follows similar concerns raised in Karnataka, where authorities alleged that certain fuel samples exhibited ethanol levels reaching up to 31.2 percent. In response to those findings, oil marketing companies maintained that their supplied E20 petrol adheres strictly to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications, while raising objections regarding the sampling methodology utilized during the October 2026 testing procedures.