The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has shut down 18 fuel stations across the country in a crackdown aimed at dealing with the sale of adulterated fuel.
In a notice issued by the authority, the 18 stations were established to have been selling various adulterated fuel products to motorists. Diesel and Super Petrol were highlighted as the most counterfeited products sold to unsuspecting customers.
EPRA noted that the closures were informed by an analysis of the fuel products sold at the stations across the country.
The affected stations were located in Tharaka Nithi, Homa Bay, Embu, Kajiado, Kamega, Taita Taveta, Nandi, Nakuru, Laikipia, Baringo and Siaya.
According to EPRA, the stations were closed down within three months starting from October 2023.
"EPRA is mandated under Section 92 of the Petroleum Act 2019 to monitor petroleum products offered for sale in the local market to prevent motor fuel adulteration or dumping of export-bound fuels.
"During the period October-December 2023, a total of 7.114 tests were conducted at 1600 petroleum sites. From the tests. 1,574 (98.38 per cent) of the sites were found to be compliant. However, tests from 26 (1.62 per cent) sites turned out to be non-compliant," read the notice in part.
Additionally, EPRA also demolished an unlicensed fuel site in Bungoma County. It was noted that the site had Kerosene that was meant to be exported to other countries.
Following the operation, EPRA confiscated the fuel that was at the site.
On the other hand, some business individuals were also fined millions after it was established that their trucks were operating in unlicensed sites.
One station was fined Ksh3 million after EPRA confiscated and disposed of its fuel.
Meanwhile, EPRA also noted that eight gas stations were temporarily closed down during the raid. The stations mostly located within Nairobi and Kiambu counties were refilling cylinders without the authorisation of the parent gas companies.
