The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has flagged filling stations selling adulterated fuel to unsuspecting members of the public.
In a statement on Thursday, June 30, EPRA announced it had sanctioned three fuel dealers for selling super petrol and diesel diluted with kerosene.
Additionally, EPRA disclosed that it penalized six petroleum dealers for dumping exports in the local market.
The six include Dultome Oil Filling Station in Sinyolo, Olympic Fuels (Holo), Grace Filling Station (Sio Port), Abdifatah Abdullahi Filling Station (Eshisiru), Edward Gitonga Filling Station (Elementaita) and Modern Filling Station (Nangili).
According to EPRA the six offered for sale, super petrol or diesel meant for export between April and June 2021, against existing regulations.
Kofurow Gas Limited, which sells LPG under the brand names Naku Gas, Bro Gas, Fast Gas, G-Gas, Swift Gas, and Tayo Gas, was also fined by EPRA for illegally trading with and refilling LPG cylinders obtained from other licensees.
The regulator reported that during the quarter, it conducted 5,276 tests at 1,191 petroleum sites and that 99.2% of the sites were deemed to be in compliance with rules pertaining to fuel adulteration and export dumping.
The irregular activities included selling petroleum products above EPRA's suggested upper limit and exporting fuel stocks intended for the domestic market.
EPRA also forced one fuel retailer to close shop for selling adulterated fuel.
Section 92 of the Petroleum Act, 2019 mandates EPRA to monitor petroleum products offered for sale in the local market.
The monitoring exercise is aimed at preventing motor fuel adulteration or dumping of export-bound fuels.
"EPRA undertakes a program of continuous monitoring of the quality of petroleum motor fuels on sale, transport and storage throughout the country.
"Pursuant to Section 92(b) of the Petroleum Act 2019, a person who stores, transports or offers for sale adulterated Petroleum, commits an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine of not less than five million shillings or to a term of imprisonment of not less than two years or both," EPRA's statement reads.
