The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has announced that it closed twenty-eight petroleum stations across the country during the first half of 2024/2025 Financial Year.
In a newsletter released on Wednesday, February 5, EPRA stated that the petrol stations were shut down for selling non-compliant products.
The authority revealed that the sites were found to be selling adulterated or export-bound motor fuels in the local market.
“The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) shut twenty-eight petroleum retail stations found to be trading in adulterated and export bound fuels in the local market, during the first half of 2024/2025 Financial Year,” EPRA reported.
During the July – December 2024 period, 11,824 tests were conducted across 2,616 petroleum-dispensing sites.
EPRA Shuts Down 28 Petrol Stations During 1st Half of 2024/2025
The regulatory authority is mandated, under Section 92 of the Petroleum Act 2019, to monitor petroleum products offered for sale in the local market.
The authority added that the aim is to prevent motor fuel adulteration and dumping of export-bound fuels.
In December 2024 alone, EPRA shut down six stations for non-compliance, with four paying penalties and one case still pending in court.
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These stations included Davis Station in Machanga, Embu; Midtown Station in Machakos; Atanken Station in Machakos; ElGon View Station in Busia; Salama Station in Kiambu; and Imperial Service Station in Siaya.
The agency also conducted 5,970 tests between October and December 2024 across 1,295 petroleum sites.
“From the tests, 1,284 (99.15%) of the sites were found to be compliant. However, tests from 11 (0.85%) sites turned out to be non-compliant,” EPRA stated.
The nature of non-compliance included selling diesel containing high sulfur, offering for sale Diesel meant for export but contaminated with domestic kerosene, selling Super Petrol adulterated with Kerosene, and offering for sale Super Petrol meant for export.
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EPRA Shut Down 14 Petrol Stations in September 2024
In September 2024, EPRA closed 14 petrol stations and fined three others for selling adulterated fuel.
The authority noted that these petrol stations had been flagged during a three-month crackdown that took place between July and September 2024.
The 14 petrol stations shut down in the crackdown were Safari Oil Service Station in Kamalat, Prijam in Naromoru, Tawa in Tawa, Lengut in Lengut, Re-Fresh Up Energy in Talket, Green Field in Kanamai, and Sikhendu in Sikhendu.
Other stations were Chombo in Chepkorio, Birgen in Mulot, Top Energy in Ombeyi Market, Robinson in Labuiywo, Murinya in Murinya, Murathi Elijah in Kipkona, and Suntone in Busia.
During this period, a total of 5,854 tests were conducted across 1,321 petroleum sites.
From the tests, 1,304 (98.71 per cent) of the sites were flagged for non-compliance
However, tests from 17 sites representing 1.29 per cent turned out to be non-compliant.
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