Exposing new 'dirty' gasoline trading tricks

(Baonghean) - Originating from suspicions when people's motorbikes and cars broke down in large numbers, a dirty gasoline production and trading network was recently exposed.

» Hot: Caught red-handed filling up 'dirty' gasoline at a station to sell to customers

» Identifying 8 dealers selling 2 million liters of dirty gasoline in Nghe An

Consumer feedback

Since early 2017, many Que Phong residents have suspected that local gas stations were selling “dirty” gas. Their motorbikes, cars, etc. suddenly broke down, and only returned to normal after the carburetor and engine were cleaned.

Mr. Lang Van Minh - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee said that once when he went to Vinh city for work, when the car reached Quan Hanh town (Nghi Loc), it ran out of gas, stopped and then died.

The driver had to hire a tow truck to take him to a repair shop for inspection. After the engine was flushed and the car was refueled, it returned to normal operation. The driver later told Mr. Minh that he had previously filled up at a gas station in Kim Son town.

Tuan Tu Anh store selling poor quality gasoline in Do village, Chau Kim commune (Que Phong). Photo: Lan Tuan

Head of the Economic Infrastructure Department of Que Phong district, Mr. Sam Ba Tuan, also once “mistakenly” filled up with dirty gasoline. That time, Mr. Tuan used his personal vehicle for work, and when he reached the border of Quy Chau and Quy Hop districts, he stopped at a roadside gas station to fill up with gasoline.

The car ran fine until it stopped while going uphill. He braked and tried to accelerate again, but the engine made strange noises, then stalled. After that, he had to flush the engine parts and add new gas.

Mr. Sam Ba Tuan said: “Since the beginning of 2017, there have been many petitions sent to the authorities of Que Phong district. They are very upset when their vehicles are damaged due to using poor quality gasoline. For vehicles such as cars, excavators, and diggers, they have to bring them to large centers for repair. It is costly, time-consuming, and delays work...”.

In the border commune of Tri Le, on August 27, 2017, people submitted a petition to the People's Committee and relevant agencies to handle the business of poor quality gasoline:

“Recently, our people have been pumping gasoline at Bao Ly Company Limited located in Tri Le commune.

After pumping gas there, we saw that the car was operating abnormally and suspected that the gas was mixed, so we had to buy gas at the market, flush the gas tank and replace it with a new one, and the car ran fine. Now we are making a petition to the authorities and relevant departments to check the quality of gasoline from Bao Ly Company Limited, to ensure vehicle safety for people in Tri Le area."

Car carburetor damaged due to using dirty gasoline. Photo: Lan Tuan

Tri Le Commune People's Committee confirmed: "The incident that some Tri Le commune residents reported that when pumping gas at the gas station in Na Nieng village, it emitted smoke and even made it difficult to start the engine is true. We request the District People's Committee and relevant departments to urgently check and verify."

Need the involvement of the Department of Science and Technology

On April 11, 2017, the People's Committee of Que Phong district established a Petroleum Inspection Team; and on April 17, 2017, issued Official Dispatch No. 409/UBND-KTHT to the Department of Science and Technology and the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department requesting to send officers with expertise in quality measurement to assist the Inspection Team.

Official dispatch No. 409 stated: "...The People's Committee of Que Phong district requests the Department of Science and Technology, Fire Police No. 3, each unit to send 1-2 officers to join the Inspection Team to assist the district in inspecting measurement standards, quality as well as fire prevention and fighting conditions for gas stations in the area...".

According to Vice Chairman of Lang Van Minh District People's Committee, based on information from Que Phong District, the Department of Science and Technology has directed the Department's inspectors to coordinate with the Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality to conduct two inspections of petrol stations in the area. Of the 10 petrol stations inspected, the delegation discovered that 7 stations were selling poor quality petrol; with an octane index below standard.

Gas stations with quality violations not only appeared in remote communes, but also appeared right in Kim Son town. "In a short time, it was discovered that most of the gas stations in Que Phong had violations, proving that the subjects of fraud in the gas business have identified the highland area as an easy place to operate to take advantage of consumers...".

Tuan Tu Anh - one of the gas stations discovered violating regulations. Photo: Lan Tuan

According to Mr. Sam Ba Tuan, the incident reported by Tri Le residents on August 28, 2017, the Inspector of the Department of Science and Technology determined that after storm No. 2, due to a long power outage, Bao Ly Company transferred gasoline from the tank to a tank to sell to the people. Because the tank was dirty, the gasoline was dirty, so when using the vehicle, the phenomena reported by the people appeared. After the conclusion, Bao Ly Company compensated the people.

Referring to the fact that 7/10 petrol stations have violated quality standards, the Head of the Economic Infrastructure Department of Que Phong district expressed concern: “The petrol trading enterprises that violated the regulations have all been administratively sanctioned. However, there are still very worrying issues. That is, the source of poor quality petrol has not been clarified to thoroughly handle the violations. How has the management of poor quality petrol been clarified? Or is it still being sold freely, leading to continued damage to people's vehicles...?

(To be continued)

Nhat Lan - Dao Tuan