COPEC alleges fuel adulteration caused Kpone explosion

The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers in Ghana (COPEC) says fuel adulteration was still a problem in Ghana and has therefore called on the government to help put an end to the menace.

In a press statement issued in reaction to the explosion of some fuel tankers at a tanker yard at Kpone in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality of Greater Accra on Wednesday night, COPEC said it had information that there were activities of illegal mixing of premix fuel with petrol and diesel at the said tanker yard.

According to COPEC, most of the explosions at tanker yards in the country is as a result of illegal mixing of premix fuel.

In the COPEC statement issued by the Executive Director, Mr Duncan Amoah, it said their investigations have revealed that regular petrol and diesel are being mixed with low grade petroleum products in order to make more returns on sale in many areas.

He added that most of these acts are carried out at night with the use of electronic pumps to transfer the inferior substances into tanks.

“Reports of premix fuel diversions abound and we expect authorities to clamp down heavily on these operators who are engaged in this illegal trade of diverting premix fuel meant for fishing boats, to some tank yards to be adulterated with other petroleum products for onward sale and discharge at some specific fuel stations.”

10 tankers burnt

Graphic Online's Tema correspondent, Benjamin Xornam Glover reported that at least 10 Bulk Road Vehicles (BRV) loaded with products were burnt when fire engulfed a fuel storage depot at Kpone on Wednesday night [October 2, 2019].

Two other BRVs at the Goodness Energy Tanker Yard, an Oil Marketing Company were partially burnt as personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). battled the inferno.

The fire, which started in the late hours of Wednesday was extinguished by personnel of the GNFS.

It was unclear what must have caused the inferno, but some eyewitnesses gave an indication that the fire might have been caused by an attempt to transfer fuel from one tanker to another, Glover reported.