South Africa issues a warning to fuel stations

Service stations selling contaminated diesel are still a concern in 2024, and these businesses are warned that an aggressive campaign of random fuel testing is still ongoing to root out offenders

In early 2024, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, issued a stark warning to petrol stations across the country, addressing a growing concern over the sale of contaminated diesel.

The minister announced that random fuel quality tests at petrol stations would be increased in an effort to curb the illegal practice of selling tainted diesel.

This move followed a disturbing discovery by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), which identified at least 70 filling stations selling diesel diluted with illuminating paraffin.

Contaminated diesel refers to fuel that does not meet the proper regulatory standards due to the presence of foreign substances, such as paraffin, which affects the fuel’s performance and can harm vehicles.

In South Africa, this adulteration is not only harmful but also illegal, as it takes advantage of tax disparities between fuels.

Full story Petrol station warning in South Africa – BusinessTech