This is what you need to do in Kenya once you suspect you have received adulterated fuel
The long-running practice has failed to disappear despite past ERC attempts including sting raids on petrol stations and hefty fines on culprits.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has advised motorists to obtain cash receipts or retain mobile payment confirmation notification from fuel filling stations to enable the regulator build cases against petrol station owners who are costing the country billions of shillings and unsuspecting motorist millions in repairs and maintenances in its case against fuel cartels responsible for fuel adulteration.
“Motorists who experience jerking, loss of engine power and excessive smoke from the vehicles' exhaust after refuelling are urged to immediately report the matter to the Commission through info@erc.go.ke or hotline numbers 0708444000 or 0709336000,” the ERC said in a notice.
The move comes in the wake of rising cases of fuel adulteration by rogue traders who blend low-cost kerosene with diesel to achieve higher margins.
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Besides damaging vehicle's, contamination of fuel is blamed for loss of revenue by Kenya revenue Authority as the unscrupulous traders target petroleum meant for neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda in a bid to evade taxes.
According to the Petroleum Institute of East Africa, Kenya Revenue Authority loses Sh34 billion ($340m) monthly as up to 75 per cent of the 33 million litres of kerosene reported to be consumed monthly is used to contaminate diesel and petrol.
Kerosene is currently priced Sh19 below diesel, making it a suitable blend for petroleum products for the traders looking to increase their earnings in the tightly controlled market
Treasury CS henry Rotich also unveiled a set of deterrent measures likely to hurt poor Kenyanas the government is taking during the Budget 2018/19 presentation day, signaling how big problem is.
Fuel contamination causes excessive engine wear, piling undue vehicle maintenance costs on motorists.
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