How EPRA is ensuring fuel quality and integrity in Kenya

Business
How EPRA is ensuring fuel quality and integrity in Kenya

By Edgar Nyandong

Fuel adulteration and fraud have long plagued Kenya’s petroleum sector, eroding consumer trust, damaging engines, and siphoning off much-needed government revenue. These illicit practices don’t just hurt the economy, they hit ordinary Kenyans where it hurts most, from the boda boda rider paying for costly repairs to the taxpayer footing the bill for lost public funds.

Recognizing the urgency of this challenge, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) rolled out a comprehensive strategy to secure the integrity of Kenya’s fuel supply chain. Through advanced technology, rigorous enforcement, and transparent oversight, EPRA is turning the tide against fuel fraud.

Central to this effort is the Fuel Integrity Solution (FIS), a state-of-the-art system that detects and deters adulteration, dumping, and other fraudulent activities. At its core, the FIS uses a sophisticated biochemical marker embedded in petroleum products, allowing inspectors to swiftly identify tampered or illegally diverted fuel. The process is remarkably efficient. Mobile inspection units equipped with portable analyzers can test samples in under five minutes, enabling real-time monitoring from depots to retail stations. This rapid detection capability has been a game-changer, stopping violations before contaminated fuel ever reaches consumers.

The impact of this system is clear in the latest Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report. One of the most striking successes is the sharp decline in kerosene adulteration, a persistent problem due to its lower cost. Thanks to EPRA’s stringent measures, marked domestic kerosene volumes plummeted by 48.2%, a clear sign that fewer bad actors are attempting to blend it with motor fuel. At the same time, the total volume of marked export and domestic fuel surged by 11.7%, reaching 3.6 billion liters, a testament to both the growing petroleum market and the effectiveness of EPRA’s oversight. Notably, nearly 99% of these marked volumes were export or duty-free motor fuels, proving the system’s reliability in preventing illegal diversion into the local market.

Enforcement has been key to this success. Over the past year, EPRA conducted over 27,000 sample tests across nearly 6,000 petroleum sites, achieving near-total nationwide coverage. The compliance rate stood at an impressive 98.67%, reflecting the deterrent power of the FIS and the vigilance of inspection teams. But EPRA hasn’t just been proactive, it’s also been responsive. The authority resolved 85 fuel quality complaints, ensuring that consumer concerns were addressed swiftly and transparently. This two-pronged approach, preventive monitoring and prompt grievance resolution, has reinforced public trust in the fuel supply chain.

The ripple effects of these efforts extend far beyond the petroleum sector. For consumers, it means protection from engine damage, safety hazards, and hidden costs. For the government, it translates into safeguarded revenue that can fund critical public services. For the environment, it means cleaner emissions as adulterated fuel, which burns inefficiently, is pushed out of the market. And for the economy, it fosters confidence among investors and industries that rely on dependable fuel, from transport to manufacturing.

EPRA is committed to building on this progress. Plans are underway to enhance the FIS with predictive data analytics, enabling authorities to anticipate and prevent fraud before it happens. Public awareness campaigns will also be expanded, empowering Kenyans to identify and report suspicious fuel.

But the fight against fuel fraud is not EPRA’s alone. It requires collaboration across government, industry, and the public. Consumers must remain vigilant, businesses must uphold integrity, and all stakeholders must work together to sustain these gains.

To those who would exploit the system, the message is clear: Kenya’s fuel supply chain is no longer an easy target. And for the millions of Kenyans who depend on clean, reliable fuel every day, that assurance is invaluable.

Edgar is the PR and Communications Lead at Admedia Communications Limited.

[email protected]

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