Civil supplies officials test petrol samples in Kannur for high ethanol levels

Civil supplies officials in Kannur began collecting petrol samples from local fuel stations on Monday to check the amount of ethanol mixed in the fuel. The checks started after sample tests in Karnataka found that petrol sold by several major oil companies had more than the allowed 20 percent limit of ethanol.

Inspections

The first sample was taken from Jayashree Petrol Pump at Kannothumchal in Kannur. The state government ordered these inspections across Kerala, with officials also collecting samples from petrol pumps in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts. Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob ordered the statewide checks and told the Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Commission to look into the matter.

Testing

At the Kannur petrol pump, officials collected six containers with one litre of petrol in each. These samples will go to the District Forensic Laboratory for testing. District Supply Officer M. Sunil Kumar, BPCL Area Manager S. Sharanjit and dealer representative S. Amarish led the sampling team in Kannur, with help from supply office staff from Iritty, Thalassery, Kannur, Taliparamba and Payyannur.

Context

Checking fuel quality helps protect vehicle engines from damage caused by incorrect fuel blends. State authorities often test consumer goods and fuel when neighboring regions report quality issues.