Tanzania: Adulterated Fuel Swamps Pump Market

[MaxShimba]

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Tanzania: Adulterated Fuel Swamps Pump Market

Faraja Jube
17 July 2009


Dodoma — About half of the fuel sold in the country between 2007 and 2008 was of substandard quality.

A laboratory analysis conducted by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) during the period showed that 107 out of 165 fuel stations were selling the substandard fuel.

The deputy minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Adam Malima, told Parliament in Dodoma yesterday that the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Agency (Ewura), took fuel samples from filling stations for laboratory analysis by TBS.


During 2007, a total of 59 out of 75 fuel stations were found to have substandard fuel, while 48 out of 90 fuel stations were also found selling substandard fuel in 2008.

He said Ewura also conducted inspection on 33 fuel reservoir and 12 fuel tankers between 2007 and 2008. The results showed that 18 fuel reservoirs and 6 fuel tankers, had carried poor quality fuel.
Mr Malima said Ewura fined 102 filling stations and banned them temporarily from offering fuel services, according to Section 44(2)(a) of the 2008 Petrol Act.

Responding to a question by Bububu MP Cosmas Masolwa (CCM), he said other five fuel stations received a 12-month ban each.

The MP had wanted to know the number of fuel dealers who were booked by Ewura for mixing petrol and diesel with kerosene during the period under review.

 

[Mshiiri]

Chakachua style is not uncommon countrywide. Everyone of us can be surprised where the EWURA, in the bars, or in the restaurants, or in the casino, or elsewhere? We have many authorities that do not stand for their authorities conferred. Dealing with chakachua must look for big suppliers and not damn remote petrol stations, BUT those guys with big storage tanks at Kurasini. It may be difficult to deal from there may be we suspect they get 10% and shift the burden to remote petrol stations. At least those are my speculations and observations for today.

 

[Nanu]

People who are mixing the products with kerosene are the petrol stations dealers, middlemen who buy at Kurasini and do the blending before it reaches the station or consumer station. There are a lot of stations with big walls along the main roads whereby the trucks enter and do the blending before they proceed to finals destination. Unfortunately, this hugged by Police especially those of Coast Region, who at one time they interfered a transporter who tried to put on measures to curb adulteration from his drivers. The Police said that the person he was targetting is their sponsor of their police vehicle fuels. I don't know where it the money allocated to them going to. The curbing of adulteration need concerted efforts from the community, police, TBS, EWURA and businessmen. One way of curbing fuel adulteration is by decreasing the taxes differential gap between kerosine and petrol and diesel. The current differential is more than TZS500/= per litre which is very tempting. The Govt and legislators should stop using kerosene as a voting tool on the verge of poor community. They need to propagate and promote use of gas by subsidising the LPG equipments so that a normal Tanzania can afford the first investment and sustainably go on using gas. They also need to promote use of solar as source of lighting instead of koroboi, kersones lamps, etc. There is away, the only thing lacking is willing to pursue it. It lacks from the top Government and legislators especially given the fact that players of the match are election sponsors through the ruling party. This has been and it will continue to be a problem until the public is made well aware so that they make the necessary change through their ballots. We need ethical leaders and not rulers.

 

[Kinombo]

CEMENT...........? I tried to weigh the other day 35~40kg for a 50kg Bag???

 

[rmashauri]

CEMENT...........? I tried to weigh the other day 35~40kg for a 50kg Bag???

Hata mimi nimewahi kusikia hii kitu kuwa wafanyabiashara wengi TZ hufanya huu mchezo. Wananunua Cement kiwandani then wanafumua mifuko na ku-refill. Mbaya sana hii na ni chukizo kwa MUNGU. ("Vipimo mbalimbali ni chukizo kwa BWANA; Tena mizani ya hila si njema" Mithali 20:23).