Kerala has ordered intensified inspections at petrol pumps after concerns over excessive ethanol blending in petrol, with fuel samples from nine outlets sent for laboratory testing, V D Satheesan said on Thursday. The inspections are intended to check whether ethanol content exceeds permissible limits and whether the fuel complies with prescribed quality standards.
According to Satheesan, samples were collected on November 9 from petrol pumps in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The Civil Supplies Department has been directed to expand the inspections to more outlets across the state.
The collected samples were taken in accordance with prescribed procedures and will be tested at accredited laboratories, Satheesan said. Results are expected within ten days and will determine the ethanol content and compliance of the fuel with applicable standards.
The action follows what Satheesan described as growing consumer concerns and reports of serious irregularities detected during inspections in Karnataka. He said protecting consumer rights and ensuring access to quality fuel were responsibilities of the government, adding that the interests of oil companies could not take precedence over consumers’ rights and welfare.
The inspections place the Civil Supplies Department at the centre of the state’s immediate response. Its testing process will establish whether the samples collected from the nine petrol pumps meet the required specifications. The government has not disclosed the names of the outlets or provided the laboratory results at this stage.
Satheesan said any violation of prescribed standards would invite stringent legal action against those responsible. The proposed expansion of inspections means that the first phase will be followed by checks at additional petrol pumps, although the state has not announced the number of outlets to be covered or a completion date.
The issue has also entered the national political discussion. Satheesan said Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had raised concerns about ethanol blending and sought accountability from the Union government. He said the Centre should clarify the actual percentage of ethanol being blended into petrol and the action being taken against companies that violate permissible limits.
Ethanol content is a consumer concern because, according to Satheesan, it can affect vehicle performance, maintenance costs and household spending on transport. He said consumers had the right to know what goes into the fuel they purchase.
The immediate outcome of Kerala’s action will depend on the accredited laboratory findings. The state government’s next steps are expected to include the release or use of the test results, further inspections and legal action in cases where violations of fuel quality standards are established.
