Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has blacklisted and withdrawn the licenses from 36 oil marketers for selling contaminated fuel. This was said through a statement released by ERC on Tuesday.
“Respective deputy county commissioners were requested to withdraw the license of operators of the defaulting outlets,” Part of ERC statement read.
The defaulting operators were also required to upgrade the adulterated petroleum where applicable, and pay penalties and taxes prescribed in order to resume business.
Some of the outlets that were closed are Avis Energy filling station – Machakos, Patoil filling stations – Machakos, Mukaa filling station – Makueni, Sunrise filling station – Nairobi, Maxis Oil Service – Nairobi, Kobil Kiembeni – Murang’a, Nana filling station – Busia, Lagos filing station – Kilifi, Digital filling station – Meru, Hass Eldoret service station – Uasin Gishu, The ambassador filling station – Kirinyaga, Total Mwingi service station – Kitui, Mogas Kitale sevice station – Trans Nzoia, Kobil Uganda road Eldoret service station – Uasin Gishu and Rogmer filling station – Meru among others.
According to the ERC statement, some of the stations were selling fuel products meant for export while the others are reportedly to hav been found to have diesel or super petrol contaminated with kerosene.
Avis Energy filling station was closed but is set to reopen after upgrading their products and paying taxes and penalties of Sh150,000. The station was found to be selling diesel contaminated with domestic kerosene.
Patoil filling stations and Mukaa filling station will also be reopened after paying fines of Sh100,000 and Sh684,235 respectively.
Between March and May 2016, a total of 4,532 tests were carried out in 823 petroleum outlets according to ERC.
“From the tests, 96.1 per cent were found to be compliant while others were non-compliant,” the statement read.
The commission urged anyone aware of illegal petroleum practices to inform it via the hotline number 0708 444000, available during regular working hours.
On March 21, the ERC blacklisted 56 unscrupulous oil marketers for using kerosene to contaminate fuel before selling it to unsuspecting motorists.