Lerato Mbhiza
AN investigation by the Department of Mineral Resources Mineral and Energy has uncovered 70 petrol stations selling contaminated diesel that is mixed with illuminated paraffin.
The spokesperson for the department, Robert Maake, said the department has conducted an investigation from April to December last year as part of the fuel quality monitoring.
There are about 6 500 fuel stations in South Africa, Maake pointed out.
“Those that have been found to sell fake fuel cannot be named and shamed due to the POPI Act. They have been issued with non compliance notices and have to provide remedial action.
“What we can say to consumers is that if you go to a service station and you find that the diesel price is too good to be true then you must be suspicious,” Maake said
“Five of these petrol stations were in Gauteng, 15 in Limpopo, 12 in the North West, nine were found in Mpumalanga, four in the Free State and Western Cape, and only one store was found in the Eastern Cape”.
Maake said the department will take necessary steps against the affected petrol stations.
However, no filling station’s licence has been revoked.
“In accordance with our regulations regarding petroleum product specifications and standard, the department issues a non-compliant notice.
“We give these stations 14 days to remedy the situation, if they do not respond after 14 days, we give them a final notice. If they continue to not listen to the department we start the process to cancel your license”.
Maake urges motorists to be vigilant when filling up their tanks.
Experts say that it is difficult for consumers to know whether or not their fuel is contaminated. But they have been urged to look out for fuel stations that are offering discounts that are too good to be true as the fake diesel can damage the engine of their car.
“Obviously none compliance means they cannot sell that fuel and if there is proof of the damage consumers can take action,” said Layton Beard, Spokesperson for the Automobile Association.
The department saids the fuel stations are mixing 50 % of diesel with paraffin to avoid paying fuel levy and the Road Accident Fund.
The Automobile Association(AA) last week, warned South African motorists of a possible increase in the prices of all grades of fuel in February.
Motorists can expect a slight increase of around 11 cents per litre for ULP95, 14c/l for ULP93, and 9c for diesel.
While Illuminating paraffin is showing a slight decrease of around 3c per litre.
INSIDE POLITICS
