The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) have jointly dismissed concerns regarding the quality of some fuel being sold in the country.
On Thursday, the two agencies issued a statement warning the public about devices that offer false or unverified Research Octane Number (RON) ratings.
The Research Octane Number (RON) ratings, commonly referred to as octane ratings, serve as the standard metric for assessing a fuel’s capacity to endure compression in an internal combustion engine. Utilizing fuel with a low RON may result in engine knocking.
The multi-agency team stated that the results from certain gadgets could not be assured without confirmation through laboratory tests that adhere to the necessary standard procedures for sampling, equipment calibration, and testing.
“We would like to warn consumers and the general public that while there are devices available that can give a qualitative indication of the RON rating, the accuracy of these devices cannot be guaranteed without laboratory testing,” the multi-agency team stated.
EPRA and KEBS also provided assurances to Kenyans that the fuel sold in the country was in strict compliance with established quality standards.
The two agencies revealed that after receiving reports of counterfeit fuel sales within the country, they carried out thorough confirmatory testing on fuel samples from different petroleum retail outlets, including those explicitly referenced in the reports.
The tests indicated that the fuel at all sampled stations complied with the recommended RON ratings according to Kenyan Standards.
They also affirmed that all petroleum fuels brought into the country were tested and certified prior to their market release, as part of the quality assurance measures.
The joint statement read: “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 are pleased to announce that the outcomes of these tests verify that the fuel at all sampled stations aligns with the recommended Research Octane Number (RON) ratings as outlined by Kenyan Standard.”
KEBS and EPRA expressed their commitment to transparency, dedication, and accuracy in their findings while addressing the matter.
This development follows shortly after a Kenyan content creator posted videos of himself performing fuel tests at various stations throughout Nairobi County.
The content creator claimed that the outcomes of the tests he carried out indicated that some of the petrol stations sold standard fuel products.
He proceeded to point out a well-known petrol station in the country, which he alleged was providing motorists with low-quality fuel.
