A pump attendant refuels a vehicle at a petrol station. /FILEQuality assurance agency Kebs and energy and petroleum regulator Epra have allayed fears that some petrol stations could be selling unsafe and low-quality petrol fuel.
A section of Kenyans had raised concerns on social media about the quality of fuels in some petrol stations, pointing to the possibility that some stocks could be adulterated.
In a joint statement Thursday, the agencies said laboratory tests on fuel samples from various petrol stations across the country failed to spot any anomalies contrary to the concerns expressed on social media.
“In light of the recent reports and videos circulating on social media, we have conducted extensive confirmatory tests on fuel samples from various petroleum retail stations, including those specifically mentioned in the reports. We are pleased to report that the results of these tests confirm that the fuel at all sampled stations meet the recommended Research Octane Number (RON) ratings as stipulated by Kenyan Standards,” the statement reads.
RON is a measurement that indicates how resistant a fuel is to "knocking" within an engine, essentially signifying its ability to resist premature ignition under high compression and is considered the most common way to rate a fuel's octane level.
A higher RON means greater knock resistance, as is the case with super petrol, whose suitability for different engine configurations is based on higher RON ratings.
“In instances where super petrol is marketed as a premium fuel with higher RON ratings, our tests consistently affirm compliance with these higher standards,” the agencies said.
While assuring consumers of the safety of fuels sold in the country, Epra and Kebs said the social media claims may have emanated from inaccurate results obtained from tests conducted using inappropriate gadgets that failed to capture all variables.
For accurate results, tests on fuel samples must be conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, they said.
“We would like to caution consumers and the general public that there are gadgets in the market that can provide a qualitative indication of the RON rating but the results from these gadgets cannot be guaranteed unless confirmed through laboratory tests that follow the required standard procedures of sampling, equipment calibration, and testing.”
Epra and Kebs said the recommended RON for fuel is 95, and all four samples tested passed the quality threshold.
Following the tests conducted on February 4, one sample indicated a RON rating of 96.1, the second 95.9; the third 96.0 and the fourth gave 95.9.
“Consequently, we urge consumers to continue to have confidence in the quality of petroleum fuels available, as there is no cause for alarm. We understand the importance of this issue to the public and continue to prioritize their safety and satisfaction,” the agencies said.
They said that they are committed to upholding transparency and accuracy in their findings, and remain dedicated to ensuring that the fuel available to consumers meets the highest standards.
