Now, Cong-led Keralam govt follows Karnataka on 'ethanol test'

Kerala's Congress-led government, echoing the move by Karnataka, initiated ethanol testing on Monday, aiming to verify if the ethanol content in their petrol exceeds the permitted 20%. A team led by civil supplies minister Anoop Jacob gathered six samples from each of nine petrol stations in four major cities, ensuring the presence of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) representatives during the collection.

The samples were collected using PESO-approved bottles and by trained officials, with subsequent rounds of testing planned if excess blending is detected.

Union minister of state for petroleum Suresh Gopi responded to the development, stating that while states are free to conduct such tests, they must refrain from engaging in political disputes. He affirmed that the Centre had approved 20% ethanol blending post-science-based assessment and was gradually implementing the transition.

Gopi cautioned that those attempting to create controversies politically would face repercussions. He reiterated that the Centre had permitted the blending after evaluating its scientific viability and was executing the transition gradually.

In reaction, Karnataka's food and civil supplies minister Rizwan Arshad defended his state's third-party laboratory findings of ethanol levels reaching up to 31.2%, dismissing challenges from three OMCs - IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL - as illogical. Arshad accused the OMCs of attempting to compel a fresh joint survey following recalibration of the ethanol mix.

He informed the Centre about his state's findings, requested adjustments in testing protocols, and demanded discounted prices for E20 petrol, emphasizing that elevated ethanol content diminishes mileage and raises the effective cost for consumers.

Arshad asserted that the blending of up to 30% was occurring at six terminals where ethanol was blended with petrol before distribution, not at retail outlets. Karnataka contended that authorized officials adhered to the prescribed sampling procedures, with labels jointly signed by officials and dealers. The OMCs had previously challenged the state's testing methodology, claiming non-compliance with statutory procedures under the Motor Spirit and High-Speed Diesel Control Order, IS 17021 standards, or prescribed gas chromatography dilution protocols.