South African consumers need to be wary of buying cheap Diesel in the country, as this could indicate quality tampering. Many incidents of fuel adulteration have been reported, damaging the economy and consumer’s engines. Business Tech calls this “dirty diesel.” 

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has insights on companies – particularly retailers – that have been selling “adulterated” diesel in attempts to cut costs and evade tax. The department found that 70 out of 1000 samples it had taken from service stations across the country showed results of ‘watered-down’ diesel – a mix of diesel and illuminating paraffin.

From a retail perspective, it is also very difficult to monitor as the mixing happens at depot level before it reaches retail filling stations, says Business Tech. 

As this is not a new problem, The South African Petroleum Retailers Association (SAPRA), has put together a Petroleum Compliance Forum in 2019. They support any measures to investigate reported cases of ‘watered-down’ diesel in the country.

SAPRA members follow a strict code of conduct, and in the event of a problem, motorists can immediately visit the SAPRA website and report any suspicions on their whistleblower hotline.

However, it’s equally important for supply chain stakeholders to create measures to protect the quality of Diesel. With enough collaboration and vigilance across the supply chain between government regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders – less fuel tampering will take place.

To elevate standards and ensure the integrity of fuel sources, supply chain businesses and fleet managers can also do something about it.

What can the supply chain do?

• With teamwork and collaboration between stakeholders and regulatory bodies, more can be done to strengthen fuel quality initiatives. Stakeholders could establish a system, where if there are deviations from fuel quality standards, they can report them to regulatory bodies more promptly. All regulatory bodies can intervene quickly if there is non-compliance, and then initiatives can be executed more effectively.
• Supply chain businesses can be more actively engaged with fuel suppliers, to ensure that they are following industry standards and regulations. This could include conducting thorough assessments and taking a good look at their reputation, compliance history, and overall commitment to quality control. They could even take it a step further and collaborate with suppliers to create real-time monitoring systems that track the quality of fuel at different stages of the supply chain.
• Investing in quality assurance testing on fuel samples from various points in the supply chain, including depots and retail filling stations.
• Why not get the whole team onboard to raise awareness about the risks of fuel adulteration and the importance of maintaining quality standards? This could include providing training programs for employees and educating fleet managers and drivers on how to identify signs of fuel quality issues and encourage the reporting of suspicious activities.
• Actively participate in industry forums and initiatives, such as the Petroleum Compliance Forum, to share best practices, discuss challenges, and collectively address issues related to fuel quality.
• Establish whistleblower programs within organisations to encourage employees and stakeholders to report any suspicions or evidence of fuel adulteration. And support external platforms, like the SAPRA whistleblower hotline, where individuals can report incidents anonymously.

In the dynamic world of transport and logistics, INControl supports a forward-thinking approach to fuel management. Fuel quality isn’t merely a logistical concern, it’s a cornerstone of operational resilience. Regular and rigorous assessments are important, to prevent potential disruptions and vehicle damage. Chat to INControl today for all your fuel-related concerns, in addition to your supply chain requirements.