EPRA flags four petrol stations for selling harmful fuel, non-compliance

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority flagged four petrol stations for selling adulterated fuel and non-compliance with regulations.[Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has flagged four petrol stations in Kenya for selling adulterated fuel and non-compliance with regulations.

The four are Frankstar Solution Filling Station in Mitua, Bungoma County, Delta Thika Road Service Station in Juja, Kiambu County, King Size Filling Station in Mwala, Machakos County and Vivasa Energy Filling Station in Isinya, Kajiado County.

EPRA said the four outlets were picked out from 256 filling stations, whose fuel was examined between July and September 2022.

"From the tests, 98 per cent of the sites were found to be compliant. However, tests from four sites turned out to be non-compliant," the regulator said in a notice published in The Standard and Nation newspapers on Friday, September 30.

According to EPRA, three out of the four offending petrol stations were selling Super petrol adulterated with domestic kerosene which had high Sulphur.

Bungoma-based Frankstar Solution Filling Station, according to EPRA, was selling to Kenyans Super petrol that was meant for export. The filling station, however, was not among those listed as selling adulterated fuel.

The regulator urged Kenyans to report any suspected case of non-compliance to 0709 336 000 or dial the USSD code *363# and follow the prompts.

Adulteration of fuel involves mixing an original commodity with a foreign substance. For instance, adding kerosene into diesel or adding solvents into petrol.

Adulteration is a trick used by unscrupulous fuel dealers to maximise profits.

It can cause irreparable damage to engines such as sudden failure, difficulty in starting, increased fuel consumption, low fuel spraying rate in the combustion chamber and increased emissions of particulate matter.

In the Friday newspaper notices, EPRA also flagged Royal Gas and Energy Limited for refilling and trading with liquefied petroleum gas cylinders of other licensees for profits without the said-licensee's prior written consent.

The offending stations will either be prosecuted or face closure, EPRA said.