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| Mr Kaguo |
It has now been officially proved that petrol supplied between January
and March, this year, through the bulk procurement system (BPS) contained more
quantity of ethanol beyond specifications, it has been learnt.
This comes just a week after one of the local oil marketing companies,
Gapco Tanzania, wrote to the Petroleum Importation Coordinator (PIC), reporting
to have established the presence of yet another compound, methanol, in petrol
supplied in April, this year.
The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA)'s Manager
for Communication and Public Relations, Mr Titus Kaguo, confirmed that the fuel
was out of specification.
"It is true that we have received results from the Government
Chemist, which reveal that the fuel consignment was out of specification (off
spec). The petrol had more quantum of ethanol beyond the specification
requirements," Mr Kaguo said through a text message.
He explained further that allowable quantum of ethanol on fuel destined
for the local market should not exceed 9.5 per cent and such fuel had to be
blended at processing plant (at a refinery) and not elsewhere.
"We have
communicated with TBS (Tanzania Bureau of Standards) about the results and TBS
maintained that the product matched specifications.
EWURA is further studying the results including establishing why more
ethanol has been found in the product before it submits a report to the EWURA
Board for final decision/directives," he said.
Oil marketing companies had
last month accused the supplier of petroleum products through BPS, Augusta
Energy SA, over what they claimed to be poor quality petrol supplied between
January and March.
Swiss-based Augusta Energy SA won three successive tenders to supply
oil through BPS from January to June, this year, with each tender covering two
months.
In a letter dated April 5, this year, addressed to EWURA, the oil
companies, through their umbrella association, Tanzania Association of Oil
Marketing Companies (TAOMAC), said they suspected the petrol to have been
blended with ethanol.
"As provided under the BPS manual, we formally register a dispute
with EWURA for handling and request the performance bond to be held by EWURA
while the dispute is being handled," the letter, signed by TAOMAC
Executive Director, Mr Salum Bisarara, read in part.
Reached for comment then, the Director General of EWURA, Mr Haruna
Masebu, said the authority had submitted petrol samples from diverse sources to
the Chief Government Chemist for further testing. "Samples have already
been taken to the government chemist. Other tests conducted on the same by TBS
have indicated that the fuel is not contaminated.
"However, we cannot ignore complaints from the public. We took the
samples to the chief chemist because they have better equipment," Mr
Masebu said then. Nine oil marketing
companies have reported various inadequacies with the fuel, ranging from
malfunctioning digital flow meter, failure of dispensing units as well as
failures of motor vehicles.
The companies include Gapco, Engen, Mogas, Tiper, NATOIL, Hass, Kobil,
OilCom and PUMA Energy (formerly BP Tanzania).
As a result of the "poor quality fuel," the oil marketing
companies say they are incurring financial loss in maintenance of equipment,
replacement of the product, repair of customers' vehicles as well as loss of
revenue due to lack of sales.
Reached for comment yesterday, the TBS's Head of Certification, Eng.
Joshua Katabwa, upheld the tests conducted by TBS.
"Our stand is still the same that the fuel was clear. Otherwise
you can speak to the Acting Director General for more information," he
told 'Daily News' in a telephone interview.
The PIC Board of Directors Chair, Mr Mansoor Shanif, said he was
unaware of the new development.
"I am not aware of the results from the
Government Chemist yet. But if EWURA has already received the results then they
can issue a directive on the way forward," Mr Mansoor, also Kwimba MP
through CCM, said.
The representative of Augusta Energy SA in Tanzania, Mr Orlando de
Costa, could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
The company's Managing Director, Giuseppe Nestola, said in a letter
dated April 11, 2012, addressed to PIC and copied to EWURA, that the disputed
fuel had legally acceptable levels of oxygen content of not more than 1.04 per
cent which many oil marketing companies imported prior to commencement of bulk
procurement.
"The certificate of quality indicates oxygen content of 1.04 per
cent which is on specification for Tanzania standards but does not indicate if
the oxygen is ethanol, methanol or other compounds, which is not required in
Tanzania specifications," Mr Nestola argued in the letter which was also
copied to TAOMAC.
He said that Augusta has always supplied the certificate of quality
(COQ) at loading ports for all the cargoes discharged from December 2011 up to
date.
Source: The Daily News,http://www.dailynews.co.tz, reported by Alvar Mwakyusa
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