The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has exposed over 70 fuel stations in South Africa nationwide in the sale of adulterated diesel mixed with illuminating paraffin.
This discovery comes in the wake of a significant uptick, up to 38%, in fuel-testing laboratories reporting a surge in large consumers voluntarily submitting diesel samples for testing in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The DMRE attributes the primary motive for this illicit practice to financial gain. Given that paraffin is exempt from substantial fuel taxes and levies, coupled with the unregulated nature of diesel prices, filling stations exploit the opportunity to set their own prices and increase profits by blending the cheaper paraffin with diesel.
This manipulation creates an enticing prospect for unscrupulous station owners to sell contaminated fuel to unsuspecting customers, capitalizing on the absence of regulations governing diesel prices and the financial advantages of using paraffin.
Using a propellant different from a vehicle’s intended fuel can lead to severe engine damage, resulting in costly repairs and long-term issues. The DMRE confirmed the reception of 70 failed diesel samples, subsequently issuing non-compliance notices to all identified stations involved.
“The failed samples show an adulteration of diesel with illuminating paraffin,” said the government entity.
The number of filling stations per province found to be selling dirty diesel were:
Limpopo – 15 stations
North West – 13 stations
KwaZulu-Natal – 13 stations
Mpumalanga – 9 stations
Northern Cape – 6 stations
Gauteng – 5 stations
Western Cape – 4 stations
Free State – 4 stations
Eastern Cape – 1 station
The DMRE confirmed that it followed the prescribed process to address the non-compliance issues, “including reporting the non-compliant service stations to SARS because diesel fuel adulteration is a form of tax evasion,” it said.
