Fuel adulteration is bad for economy, public safety; together we can stop it
Officials from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) inspect an oil tanker at a yard in Industrial Area on April 29, 2019 where 7 people were found adulterating fuel.
Ensuring fuel quality is not merely a technical standard. It is an essential factor that directly impacts economic productivity, environmental sustainability, and consumer safety.
Fuel containing impurities or one that has been adulterated could mean the difference between well-functioning vehicles, industrial machines and costly repairs.
Fuel adulteration is largely driven by greed for higher profits where unscrupulous traders or oil transporters mix hundreds of litres of the lowly priced kerosene with diesel. The adulterated product is then sold to unsuspecting motorists at premium prices.
Last September, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) shut down 14 petrol stations that were found to be selling adulterated fuel.
The stations, spread across the country, were among 1,321 sampled fuel vendors whose products were tested between July and September and were part of 17 found to be non-compliant.
All players across the entire value chain, from importers, distributors, and retailers to government regulators and consumers must play their role.
Each player must uphold strict standards to prevent contamination, adulteration, or mismanagement, which can harm engines, increase emissions, and jeopardise public safety.
Responsibility starts with easy measures such as motorists demanding receipts every time they fuel their vehicles and keeping them as proof in case a claim arises.
Motorists are also encouraged to immediately report to Epra through the toll-free line available on the website if they suspect cases of fuel adulteration.
Informed stakeholders across the supply chain ensures compliance with regulations. With Kenya’s registered motor vehicles reaching 4.7 million, collaborative efforts, including inspections, certifications, and reporting mechanisms, are essential to safeguarding fuel quality and fostering trust in the market.
Section 92 of the Petroleum Act, 2019 mandates Epra to monitor petroleum products offered for sale in the local market from the point of entry, during transportation by tankers or pipeline, to the retail point at the pump where offending individuals are penalised on the spot.
Heavy fines are imposed on errant operators where operators found to have heavily contaminated petrol and diesel being forced to shut down and their licences withdrawn.
The Energy and Petroleum Statistics report for the period ending June 2024 shows that out of over 5,900 petroleum sites subjected to fuel marking tests by the Epra across the country at that time, 98.67 percent were found to be compliant.
Ensuring quality fuel is not a one-entity job. The regulator actively engages with industry players to create awareness of the importance of compliance and to address challenges in the supply chain.
As fuel consumers, we each have a role to play, including reporting cases of poor quality fuel or supporting retailers committed to compliance.
Together, we can ensure that Kenya’s fuel market not only meets national standards but also serves as a pillar of sustainable economic development.
The writer is Director-General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra)
