A YouTube Video randomly testing the octane levels in petrol sold across different fuel stations in Kenya has rattled Vivo Energy, the sole distributor and marketer of Shell products in Kenya.
- •The vlog entitled ‘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.
- •In a statement released yesterday, Vivo Energy insisted on the high quality of the fuel it imports into Kenya.
“At Vivo Energy, we have stringent quality control measures in place at our depots to ensure that all fuels meet the required standards before being distributed through our nationawide Shell service station network,” the fuel distributor said. According to Vivo Energy, 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.
Petrol with high octane levels is more stable and prevents the engine from knocking. The engine can be damaged if a vehicle’s fuel ignites prematurely. The petrol also provides greater efficiency for turbocharging and higher compression ratios.
According to the latest data from the industry’s regulator, Vivo is the largest oil marketer in Kenya with 22.24% in market share.
More updates on this story as it evolves…