Govt admits some samples of octane in Egypt failed to meet specified standards
In a statement, the ministry confirmed the detection of some non-compliant samples at gas stations.
The ministry decided to disburse an amount equal to the approved invoice value to replace the fuel pump, with a maximum of LE 2,000, to those who filed complaints via the hotline 16528 or the government complaints system website.
Citizens will be contacted successively by the ministry, the ministry added.
The statement explained that compensation will only be provided if the complaint was filed between May 4-10, and the complaint relates to the same period.
Documents proving the complainant's ownership of the vehicle be submitted, along with a certified invoice proving the replacement of the vehicle's fuel pump.
A total of 870 complaints were recorded nationwide between May 4-9, regarding the quality of octane products offered in local markets. Up to 807 samples were analyzed from various governorates by teams from the Ministries of Petroleum, and Supply, as well as neutral analysis companies.
It found that 802 samples met specifications and only five failed.
The ministry said added that some necessary measures have been added regarding locally produced octane.
These include not releasing any product from refineries for consumption until samples have been analyzed in two different laboratories and the results verified, instead of requiring analysis in a single laboratory.
Issues not widespread
The Ministry's official spokesperson, Moataz Atef, said that the Ministry of Petroleum has received several complaints regarding octane quality via its hotline.
He noted that most of the complaints came from a single geographic area, and that gasoline fraud is not widespread but is instead limited to a number of cases in certain areas.
The head of the Automobile and Spare Parts Dealers Association Osama Abul-Magd, noted that the automotive sector was not affected by the adulterated octane scandal, but that spare parts sales were.
He referred to an increase in the import of fuel pumps, with sales up 15 percent over the past week.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
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