The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) and the Energy Regulatory Authority (EPRA) have refuted claims of substandard fuel products in the Kenyan market after a viral video linked Vivo Energy to poor quality petrol.
- •The vlog account ‘Tanuki Garage’ released a video testing the Research Octane Numbers (RON) of the V-Power petrol and the normal unleaded petrol sold at a Shell fuel station in Lavington, Nairobi.
- •The findings revealed that both fuels had RONs lower than 90, which was significantly lower than those in other fuel stations.
- •Petrol with high octane levels is more stable, prevents the engine from knocking, and provides greater efficiency for turbocharging and higher compression ratios.
“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 can 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,” a joint statement from the two organisations says.
Super Petrol is categorised based on its RON rating, which determines its suitability for different engine configurations. According to the two organisations, over the counter gadgets can provide a a qualitative indication of the RON rating but the results from these gadgets cannot be guaranteed unless confirmed through laboratory tests.
The assurances by the two regulators follows a statement by Vivo Energy where the oil marketer and distributor said that its fuels meet required standards. The company said that the octane levels of the unleaded and V-Power petrols in Shell stations are 93 and 95 respectively. The company has pledged to conduct an internal investigation through independent laboratory testing to determine if the alleged adulteration occurs along the distribution channel.
“Furthermore, in instances where Super Petrol is marketed as a premium fuel with higher RON ratings, our tests consistently affirm compliance with these higher standards. Consequently, we urge consumers to continue to have confidence in the quality of petroleum fuels available, as there is no cause for alarm.”
