Kpone tanker yard explosion caused by fuel adulteration - COPEC

The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers in Ghana (COPEC) says fuel adulteration is the cause of an explosion at the Kpone tanker yard on October 2, 2019. 

In a press statement issued in reaction to the explosion of some fuel tankers at a tanker yard at Kpone in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality of Greater Accra on Wednesday night, COPEC said it had information that there were activities of illegal mixing of premix fuel with petrol and diesel at the said tanker yard.

According to COPEC, most of the explosions at tanker yards in the country is as a result of illegal mixing of premix fuel.

READ ALSO : Video : Fire razes tanker yard at Kpone, 15 fuel tankers burnt

In the COPEC statement issued by the Executive Director, Mr Duncan Amoah, it said their investigations have revealed that regular petrol and diesel are being mixed with low grade petroleum products in order to make more returns on sale in many areas.

He added that most of these acts are carried out at night with the use of electronic pumps to transfer the inferior substances into tanks.

“Reports of premix fuel diversions abound and we expect authorities to clamp down heavily on these operators who are engaged in this illegal trade of diverting premix fuel meant for fishing boats, to some tank yards to be adulterated with other petroleum products for onward sale and discharge at some specific fuel stations.”

Explosion

Fire gutted a tanker yard around the Kpone tank farm area on October 2, 2019, in the evening. About 15 fuel tankers have been reported to be affected by the fire.

READ ALSO : Fire razes Unity Bank head office (video)

Six fire tenders from various fire stations were dispatched to the fire to control the blaze. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained by authorities.

Safety Concerns

The safety of most tanker yards and filling stations has been a national discussion after the Atomic Junction filling station explosion in 2017 destroying properties and taking lives.

The citing of filling stations in the city centre have also been discussed, but most experts believe with the adherence to rules and regulations these explosions will not occur.