Fuel Density Alarm: Kerala Inspects Petrol Pumps After E20 Controversy
Kerala officials test petrol samples in Kochi following Karnataka's claims of excessive ethanol blending in E20 fuel.
Following a brewing controversy over the blending of ethanol in fuel, the Kerala Civil Supplies Department has launched a series of inspections at fuel pumps in Kochi. The move comes as authorities seek to verify the E20 petrol density and ensure that the ethanol content adheres to prescribed limits, amid allegations that some fuel may contain ethanol levels far exceeding the 20 per cent cap.
Kochi Inspections and Sample Testing
District Civil Supplies Officer Shaji PR confirmed that the department conducted targeted inspections to examine the quantity of ethanol present in ordinary petrol (motor spirit). During these raids, officials flagged six different samples, each consisting of one litre of fuel.
To ensure scientific accuracy, two of these samples have been dispatched to an analytical chemical laboratory in Kakinada. The department is currently awaiting the lab results to determine if the fuel being sold to the public meets the required quality standards.
The Karnataka Spark: Allegations of 'Petrol Theft'
The scrutiny in Kerala follows a major uproar in Karnataka. Minister Rizwan Arshad recently raised red flags regarding the potential damage high ethanol concentrations can cause to vehicle engines. He warned that vehicles not specifically designed for high-ethanol blends could suffer component failure if the fuel contains more than 20 per cent ethanol.
The Karnataka government took a proactive stance by collecting 63 samples from various districts and major oil companies. According to the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology of Karnataka, some retail outlets were selling motor spirit with ethanol levels ranging between 26 per cent and 31 per cent.
Political Firestorm and Rahul Gandhi's Intervention
The issue has escalated to the national political stage, with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, questioning the Central government. In a pointed post on X, the Congress leader likened the E20 situation to a "420" scam, describing it as "petrol theft from the public's vehicles."
Rahul Gandhi demanded to know when the Centre would take action against oil companies that allegedly supplied fuel beyond the 20 per cent limit, citing the tests conducted by the Karnataka government across seven districts.
Oil Companies and Centre Deny Claims
Despite the allegations from state authorities and political leaders, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has strongly refuted the claims of excessive blending. The Ministry stated that 893 samples of E20 petrol collected from public sector oil marketing companies across 27 States and Union Territories all conformed to the prescribed quality standards.
Furthermore, the three major state-run Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)—Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited—have clarified their process. They emphasized that ethanol blending is a highly controlled and automated system governed by statutory guidelines, leaving virtually no room for manual intervention or errors in blending ratios.