The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) says it has discovered the adulteration of petroleum products at its depot in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
BOST, in a statement, said it made the discovery during its pre-discharge testing processes.
“As standard practise, products are tested to confirm their chemical composition before loading into trucks. Upon arrival at their destination, the same product testing is carried to ensure what was loaded onto the truck is what has been transported before discharge is permitted.â€
“During the pre-discharge testing of product aboard a BRV, it was discovered through the basic test that the chemical composition of the product at the destination differed from what was loaded on the truck. BOST made a call for confirmation testing, which proved that the result of the basic test was correct: the product aboard the truck was adulterated,†the statement explained.
It has given the assurance that none of these adulterated products will find their way into its tanks and the market.
Adulteration of petroleum products entails the illegal introduction of foreign substances that could lead to non-compliance with standard specifications.
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This consequently causes irreparable damage to engines, which could result in increased fuel consumption and a low fuel spraying rate in the combustion chamber.
According to BOST, The truck and its content are being held at a safe place whilst investigations continue.
“The driver of the truck is in custody, helping the investigative agencies to get to the bottom of the matter.
Further pre-discharge tests disclosed eight (8) more trucks had their contents adulterated. The drivers of these vehicles are nowhere to be found as we speak, but their respective trucks are being held pending the conclusion of the investigations. This brings the total number of trucks with adulterated contents to nine (9),†BOST added in the statement.